Irukandji syndrome
Background[1]
- Usually develops within 2 hours of envenomation & can last up to 2 days
- Rare but potentially fatal complications can manifest in diverse ways:
- Myalgias
- Back pain
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diaphoresis
- Hypertensive crisis
- Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Death
Management [2]
- Manage pain with 4-5% acetic acid/vinegar & Hot water immersion (111-114F)
- IV magnesium sulfate (0.2mmol/kg, max 10mmol in adults) given as a bolus over 5-15 minutes for pain refractory to opioids
- Hypertension should be treated with short-acting titratable medications (eg., phentolamine, esmolol, nicardipine, nitroprusside) d/t potential for hypotension in the later stages of toxicity
- ↑ Hauglid, C., Kiel, J., & Schmidt, A. (2021, April 23). Emergen-Sea Medicine: Overview of Marine Envenomations - Page 4 of 5. ACEP Now. https://www.acepnow.com/article/emergen-sea-medicine-overview-of-marine-envenomations/4/.
- ↑ Hauglid, C., Kiel, J., & Schmidt, A. (2021, April 23). Emergen-Sea Medicine: Overview of Marine Envenomations - Page 4 of 5. ACEP Now. https://www.acepnow.com/article/emergen-sea-medicine-overview-of-marine-envenomations/4/.