SOME jellyfish have good taste. A week ago, they were linked to film and TV star Angelica Panganiban who was swimming in Zambales.
Luckily, the sexy actress only got bruises on her arms and legs. She even joked about her ordeal.
Panganiban has a lot to be thankful for. While most jellyfish stings are harmless yet painful, others can be life-threatening. According to the Washington Post, about 150 million people around the world get stung by jellyfish yearly and hundreds die because of this.
But before we go into that, let’s take a close look at these fascinating sea creatures.
Jellyfish are very old
Jellyfish or jellies have been around for millions of years. Fossils of these creatures have been found in rocks that are more than 500 million years old. That makes them one of the oldest animals on Earth. They’ve been on our planet long before dinosaurs arrived. They drift along on ocean currents in cold and warm water.
At times, jellyfish swim in groups of up to 30,000. A group of jellyfish is called a bloom, swarm, or smack. When they wash up on the beach, they’ll disappear since they are made of 95% water.
Despite their name, jellyfish aren’t fish. They’re invertebrates or animals with no backbones. They look like a bell with tentacles around the edge. The Greeks, Hebrews, and French people call them Medusa after the evil woman in Greek mythology with snakes for hair and a frightening face that turned people into stone.
No brain and heart
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said jellyfish are simple creatures with no brain, heart, and lungs. They absorb oxygen through their thin skin and don’t need a heart since they don’t have blood. Their skin is sensitive to touch and they can smell, detect light, and respond to changes in their environment.
Some jellyfish are clear, but others come in pink, yellow, blue, or purple colors. These amazing creatures can clone themselves. If you cut one in half, the pieces can regenerate and form two new jellies. In China, jellyfish are a delicacy and people have been eating them for over 1,700 years.
NOAA said jellyfish have a simple digestive cavity that serves as the stomach and intestine. Their bodies have one opening that acts as the mouth and anus. Some species have hundreds of rows of teeth. These are made of tiny hairs that can tear and pull their prey into their stomachs, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
The tentacles of jellyfish have tiny stinging cells with venom to paralyze their prey. National Geographic said jellies eat fish, shrimp, crab, and tiny plants. They digest food quickly since they can’t float if they carry a large meal in their stomach.
Long tentacles
The CBC said some species have tentacles that are over 27 meters long. But these tentacles never get tangled because they are slippery.
People who swim, dive or wade in seawater can get stung by jellyfish. But jellies don’t attack humans. Instead, people get hurt when they accidentally touch a jellyfish or step on a dead one. Different people have different reactions to the stings. The severity of your reaction depends on your age, size, and health. Vulnerable groups include children and people with poor health.
Common symptoms of jellyfish stings include:
* Burning, prickling, stinging pain
* Itching
* Red, brown, or purplish marks on the skin like a “print” of the tentacles on your skin
* Swelling
* Throbbing pain that spreads to the leg or arm
Most stings are harmless, but others are dangerous. This happens when you get stung by certain jellyfish species. The Mayo Clinic said those that usually cause trouble are:
* Box jellyfish – that are found in the Philippines and the Pacific and Indian oceans. They can cause severe pain and life-threatening reactions.
* Lion’s mane jellyfish – the world’s largest jellyfish found in the northern regions of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
* Portuguese man-of-war or the bluebottle jellyfish – has a blue or purplish gas-filled bubble.
* Sea nettle – that can be found along the northeast coast of the United States.
Warning signs
Severe reactions to jellyfish stings may appear quickly or after several hours. See a doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:
* Confusion
* Difficulty breathing
* Drowsiness
* Fainting
* Headache
* Heart problems
* Muscle pain
* Nausea
* Stomach pain
* Vomiting
* Weakness
Most jellyfish stings can be treated at home. Here’s what to do:
* Don’t apply cold or ice packs.
* Don’t rinse the area with urine, freshwater, or seawater.
* Don’t rub the area.
* Don’t scrape off the stingers.
* Remove visible stingers with fine tweezers.
* Rinse the area with vinegar
* Soak the affected area in hot – not scalding – water for 20 to 45 minutes.
For severe reactions, bring the patient to a doctor for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), life support, or antivenin medication.
Preventing stings
Skin reactions caused by delayed hypersensitivity may be treated with oral antihistamines or corticosteroids. Oral painkillers may be given.
To avoid jellyfish stings, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following:
* Ask lifeguards, residents, or local health officials about jellyfish conditions before swimming or diving in coastal waters.
* Don’t play with jellyfish even those that are washed up on the beach.
* Stay out of the water during jellyfish season.
* Wear a protective suit while swimming or diving in areas where jellyfish are common. These “skin suits” or “stinger suits” are made of thin fabric. While wading in shallow water, wear protective footwear as well.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column that has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
