Avoid the Pretty Jelly Fish
Tara A. Spears
Anyone unfamiliar with the biology of the venomous Portuguese man-of-war would likely mistake it for a jellyfish. Not only is it not a jellyfish, it’s not even an “it,” but a “they.” The Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore, an animal made up of a colony of organisms working together. Portuguese man o’war-also known as blue bottle, are common in the tropics, especially September thru December. This sea creature is easy to identify due to its bright blue color and long blue tentacles.
The Portuguese man o’ war looks like a jellyfish. But it’s a colony of specialized minute individual organisms called zooids. The tentacles have up to 1,000 stinging cells per centimeter, which emit a very strong poison. On contact these toxins cause severe pain.
According to National Geographic, the long, thin tendrils can extend 165 feet in length below the surface, although on average tendrils are 30 feet long . They are covered in venom-filled nematocysts used to paralyze and kill fish and other small creatures. For humans, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly painful, but rarely deadly. But beware—even dead man-of-wars washed up on shore can deliver a sting.
The Portuguese Man O’War lives at the surface of the open ocean, held afloat by a gas-filled bladder. This has a crest like structure at the top which acts as a sail. They can’t swim and are at the mercy of the winds – which is why they often end up washed ashore.
They are fearsome predators, catching small fish and crustaceans with their long stinging tentacles. It’s these tentacles that you need to watch out for too – they can sting long after the animal has died.
Treatment for stings controversy: there is no agreement on initial treatment. Of the ten sources the author checked, it is divided between rinsing with salt water versus fresh water versus vinegar. All medical sources agree that Portuguese man o-war stings are one of the most painful and intense of all jellyfish-like
creatures. All agree that it’s important to start treating the symptoms right away to lower your pain and discomfort levels. If you’re having severe symptoms, like chest pains or shortness of breath, call for emergency services. Typically people report burning, itching, swelling and pain for several days after contact.
First, try to avoid any further contact with the bluebottle; if you’re swimming get out of the water. Next, carefully remove (not scrape) any remnants of the creature from the skin (taking care not to touch them directly with fingers or any other part of the skin to avoid secondary stinging) Apply salt water to the affected area as soon as possible. (Not fresh water, which tends to make the affected area worse). Follow up with the application of hot water (45 °C/113 °F) to the affected area for about 15-20 minutes to ease the pain of a sting by denaturing the toxins. Most experts agree that different species of jellyfish critters respond differently to treatment.
The author has used white vinegar for many years but it currently is not recommended for treating bluebottle stings but effective for box jellies. Apply ice packs for about 15 minutes at a time several times a day to reduce swelling. For severe stings, reduce your pain with oral antihistamines. Over-the- counter medicines containing diphenhydramine can help reduce itching, swelling, and pain. Lastly, apply a topical hydrocortisone cream Enjoy the beautiful beaches but remember to pack a bottle of vinegar and a hot pack for that next trip to your favorite tropical paradise. Most importantly, do not touch the pretty blue glob on the shore.
