Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Researchers declare war on box jellyfish

Research is underway into better first aid treatment and an anti-venom for stings from one of Australia's box jellyfish species.


The jellyfish, commonly known as irukanji, is about two centimetres in diameter and is present in Australian tropical waters.

Its sting causes minor pain, followed by low back and leg cramps, nausea and possible abnormal heart rhythms.

The Australian Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne is working on an anti-venom, while Surf Lifesaving Queensland will trial different first aid treatments.

Peter Fenner, of Surf Lifesaving Australia, says there is no proven first aid treatment at present.

"Although it's a very minor sting, we get these severe symptoms starting half-an-hour later and if we were able to find a first aid treatment that prevented those symptoms or reduced them, it would be very beneficial," Dr Fenner said.

"Currently the treatment is just to pour vinegar on the area where the person has been stung, observe them for 45 minutes and if they develop these severe symptoms they'd be transferred to hospital."
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s26233.htm
do jellyfish

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