Jellyfish Sting Side Effects

A man holding a jellyfish in his hands by the sea. Photo Credit khudoliy/iStock/Getty Images

Overview

Jellyfish is a term used to describe a number of marine creatures that possess long tentacles and a transparent body. There are four major types of jellyfish--lion's mane, Portuguese man-of-war, sea nettle and sea wasp. The tentacles of jellyfish contain stinging cells that can cause significant injury to humans and other animals. Jellyfish sting side effects in humans vary based on the type of jellyfish a person comes in contact with.

Skin Rash

After being stung by a jelly fish, patients can develop a red, irritated skin rash at the site of the sting. A sting from a sea nettle generally results in mild skin-rash symptoms. Patients stung by lion's mane, sea wasp or Portuguese man-of-war can develop severe skin-rash symptoms that can include blistering, pain or swelling near the site of the sting. Certain patients may also experience sensations of burning or stinging that extend into the skin surrounding the sting site. These side effects require immediate medical attention and may persist for several days.

Resource: livestrong.com