Vinegar Treatment for Tropical Jellyfish Turns Sour

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Jellyfish StingsThe use of vinegar in the treatment of tropical jellyfish stings has now been questioned by research released today. Researchers from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine (AITHM) based at James Cook University and Cairns Hospital have made a discovery that could revolutionise the treatment of jellyfish stings, including the deadly box jellyfish.

The study examined the effect of vinegar on jellyfish stings, in particular the discharged nematocysts that the large box jellyfish release. Vinegar is currently the recommended first aid treatment for the large box jellyfish stings in tropical Australia, and in the USA, for all jellyfish stings

“Our research findings raise concerns that vinegar has the potential to do harm when used as first aid to treat box jellyfish stings,” venom expert, Jamie Seymour said. “Through our in-vitro experiments we discovered that vinegar (actually) promotes further discharge of venom from already discharged nematocysts.” Remarkedly, such discharge could actually increase the venom load in a casualty by up to 50 per cent.

The researchers from the AITHM now believe that it may be time to reconsider first-aid options for tropical Australian jellyfish stings. “We would expect the ARC (Australian Resuscitation Council) to consider this to see if the protocols need to be modified.”

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