There are literally thousands of jellyfish types in the ocean, and the chances of being stung can be high. Knowing the types of stings and what to do can help if a jellyfish stings you or someone in your family. A sting from a jellyfish will occur when a person comes into contact with the tentacles of a jellyfish.

At the ends of the tentacles are stinging structures called nematocysts. These are glands of the jellyfish that have venom in them, and contain sharp and thin tubes. These tubes are what lets the poison out and into the offending person or animal. Physical contact with the tentacles causes an immediate reaction of the jellyfish stinging. This is how they stop and kill their prey.

The poison, when a person has the misfortune of coming in contact with a jellyfish, is injected right into the skin. Different types of jellyfish cause different degrees of stings. There are many different types of jellyfish stings that can occur from different jellyfish. Most stings cause skin eruptions. These will be a painful, red rash that will become extremely itchy and irritating.

The only good thing is that the rash is generally localized to the area where the tentacles came into contact with the skin, and do not spread. These can last anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks. If the sting was bad enough, the skin around it can actual peel and cause severe and open wounds.

Allergic reactions are also possible in jellyfish stings. More swelling and inflammation can occur from this. Other reactions beside skin irritations can occur from a jellyfish sting. Headaches, vomiting, weakness, fevers, chills, muscle spasms and more can occur from a sting. There are, however, a few types of jellyfish that are deadly to humans. The box jellyfish has been known to cause death, usually by shock from the excruciating pain of the sting or heart attack.

Any type of jellyfish sting should be looked at immediately, whether by a doctor or in the emergency room. A jellyfish sting can be horribly painful if not treated properly, leading to increased irritation and infection. Always seek medical attention as soon as possible if you or a friend or family member comes into contact and is stung by a jellyfish. http://jellyfish-facts.info/ ~Ms. CiCi~