Sea wasp sting

Background

• Chironex fleckeri, commonly known as sea wasp
• Large form of box jellyfish, found mostly off the coast of northern Australia to the Philippines
• Extremely deadly, often considered one of the most poisonous jellyfish
• Identification: Often difficult to distinguish in environment, as animal is transparent. Pale blue bell, often the size of a basketball, with 15 tentacles emerging from lower corners up to 3 meters in length. Has been described as having an eerie similarity to a human skull
• Tentacles contain millions of stinging cells known as cnidocytes

Clinical Features

• Sting is extremely painful, described as burning, and can cause death as quickly as 3-5 minutes
• Most stings are mild and are self-limiting
• Deaths most commonly occur in children
• Venom causes cells to become leaky, causing hyperkalemia