Stung By Jellyfish On Bangtao Beach (warning)

[daveA]

Hi just thought i should bring to your attention that today at 07.30 whilst swimming at Bangtao bay i was stung by a jellyfish.

This is not just a little sting which occurs quite regularly but one that has left the red marks accross my chest and down my side.

I have been to the hospital and recieved an injection and given 2 types of tablets to take.

The pain was manageable but not very nice, lasted for about 2 hours up until the injection.

The doctors did'nt say to much on what type of jellyfish this was , but researching myself on the net makes me believe that this is a BOX JELLY FISH.

I say this because of the symtem's i had were slight trouble in swallowing/ breathing , pains in my chest and of course the red lines from the sting and also the amount of pain i was in .

The reason im posting this here is that i have a 2 and a half year son which i regularly take to the beach and play in the water with him. If this had happened to him im pretty sure that things could be a lot worse(not only my thoughts but thats what the doctor treating me said as well). Also this looks like i was stung by only 1 tenticle, i can only imagine what effect this would have on your body and what it would feel like being stung by multiple tenticles,(life threatening i would imagine)

so Please take care whilst swimming especially with children.

[Chantal]

Dave - so sorry to hear about your experience and glad that you are ok now.

I suggest that if you suspect it is a Box Jellyfish sting you contact Dr Somchai at The Phuket Marine Biological Center. They are currently doing research on Box Jellyfish and he might be able to determine whether it is a Box Jellyfish sting by checking the wounds.

Another suggestion I can make is when you go swimming in the sea always make sure that you take a bottle of Vinegar. Vinegar will ease the pain and prevent the spread of venom from the tentacles.

Speedy Recovery!

[Moonrakers]

White vinegar is best. Although all that vinegar actually does is to render any barbs that have not yet triggered ineffective, meaning that you don't get any additional stings.

[daveA]

Dave - so sorry to hear about your experience and glad that you are ok now.

I suggest that if you suspect it is a Box Jellyfish sting you contact Dr Somchai at The Phuket Marine Biological Center. They are currently doing research on Box Jellyfish and he might be able to determine whether it is a Box Jellyfish sting by checking the wounds.

Another suggestion I can make is when you go swimming in the sea always make sure that you take a bottle of Vinegar. Vinegar will ease the pain and prevent the spread of venom from the tentacles.

Speedy Recovery!

hi, thanks for your help and suggestions.

ive already sent an Email to PMBC to report this, but as yet no reply.

I would also like to add that at the moment i was stung it was as if i had been electricuted . i know it sounds funny but when it happened i remember a sound like electric and a crackle .(not easy to expain ), i expect something to with the nervous system.

not something i would like to go through again.

so no swimming for me until the seas are clearer .

hi, thanks for your help and suggestions.

ive already sent an Email to PMBC to report this, but as yet no reply.

I would also like to add that at the moment i was stung it was as if i had been electricuted . i know it sounds funny but when it happened i remember a sound like electric and a crackle .(not easy to expain ), i expect something to with the nervous system.

not something i would like to go through again.

so no swimming for me until the seas are clearer .

[EvilDrSomkid]

daveA, if you are still mobile, get your ass to a good hospital NOW!

If you have been stung by THE box jelly fish, you are most likely in serious trouble.

[jellymeister]

vinegar is the best initial countermeasure..after that try Systral cream avaialble at any Thai pharmacy....

[bonobo]

Dave,

While you were undoubtedly stung by a jelly or nettle, it probably was not the box jelly.  Box jellies do range into Thia waters, but their sting is usually fatal if not treated quickly (simple vinegar can delay death until anit-venom is administered).  From teh photo, you were certainly stung enough to have a fatl does of venom.

If you were in fact stung by a box jelly and have survived so far, then you do need medical treatment as the skin around the sting will die off.  It can take months for the effects of a box jelly sting to fade.

[patklang]

Much prefer a box of jelly babies lol.

Seriously be very careful out there.

[longstebe]

I was under the impression if you were to be stung by a box jelly fish it would be fatal no matter how many tentacles.

Hope your gonna be ok mate.

[longstebe]

Also I had been told before you go swimming make sure to slap the old water resistant sun cream on.This will not save your life from a box jelly fish but it does help from those loose tenticles sticking to you.

[bonobo]

Also I had been told before you go swimming make sure to slap the old water resistant sun cream on.This will not save your life from a box jelly fish but it does help from those loose tenticles sticking to you.

 Could very well be true.  Even severed tentacles can inject a person with venom as the nematocytes act independantly and don't need a living animal to trigger the threads, so not having them stick to you could prevent additional envenomations.

[krading]

If you let your kids go swimming in the sea you should have them wear those sun protection full length bathing suits to protect them from stings as well as skin cancer. A mate of mine used work as a diver off a dredge in Darwin Harbour and always wore pantyhose. Never had a problem.

[BigSnake]

These little rascal can deliver a very NASTY Painful sting, BEWARE all.

[EndofDays]

These little rascal can deliver a very NASTY Painful sting, BEWARE all.

I am NEVER going back in the water again...EVER.

[steve w]

bad news looks very painful,maybe should post in the phuket section.

[GungaDin]

Ooh Ahhh!

There are quite a few posts about the box jellyfish in Thai waters.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?cx...com=search#1137

Get well mate.