Marine envenomations: part 1 - jellyfish

BACKGROUND: Many venomous marine creatures inhabit Australian waters, causing significant morbidity and occasional fatalities. Part 1 of this article looks at jellyfish envenomations, an important overall cause of marine injuries. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the features of envenomation by some of the more commonly encountered jellyfish of medical significance, and the recommended first aid and medical management of such envenomations. DISCUSSION: It is intended that the information contained in this article will be informative to general practitioners dealing with jellyfish stings throughout Australia. Much of what we know has come from the astute observations of GPs in tropical Australia. However, there remains a lot to be learnt about jellyfish envenomation. (author abstract)