Talk:Irukandji

Earliest Usenet uses via Google Groups: &mdash; Hippietrail 09:18, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)
 * Irukandji: misc.health.alternative - 1 May 1997 by J. Doug Ohmans
 * TITLE: Further understanding of, and a new treatment for, "Irukandji" (Carukia barnesi) stings.
 * Irukandji syndrome: misc.health.alternative - 1 May 1997 by J. Doug Ohmans
 * Phentolamine also reduces the excessive shaking and sweating that appears to be part of the "Irukandji syndrome".
 * irukandji: rec.scuba.locations - 11 Jun 1997 by jensdguzzi
 * You will also only find box jellyfish inshore as they breed in the mangroves - however you may encounter the irukandji jellyfish which can also give you a nasty sting - however the irukandji is mainly around during our summer months.
 * Irukanji, irukanji: rec.scuba - 29 Nov 1997 by Mick
 * The box jellyfish is slightly more toxic in its venom, but are larger - 2 to 3 inches in mantle size and a primary stinger of up to 2 metres long, while the Irukanji Jellyfish fully grown is less than 1 inch in mantle size with a primary stinger of up to a metre in length. It is slightly less toxic than the box, but you can't see it and juvenile irukanji will float right through the stinger nets. Not a lot is known about the Irukanji Jellyfish, and the first specemins for research were only gathered last summer.
 * irukandji syndrome: alt.gossip.celebrities - 15 Apr 2002 by PUSSSYKATT
 * King is believed to have developed irukandji syndrome from the sting, causing a rapid rise in blood pressure and a cerebral hemorrhage.
 * ''King's death came less than three months after British tourist Richard Jordan became the first person on record in Australia to die from irukandji syndrome after he was stung.

New information on Irukandji Jellyfish
Lots of new information was released not too long ago and i haven't seen it updated yet so i thought i would leave a bit here. This jelly fish is not quite the same as a box jelly fish. Yes, it is a type of box jelly fish but it is unique in many ways as well. As stated in other posts, its full grown size is only that of a finger nail which makes it easily able to slip through swimming safety nets unnoticed. Here is some information i was able to pick up from the discovery channel about their unique features.

1)Unlike other jelly fish, these little guys also have stinging cells ON THE BELL and not just the tentacles. If you happen to see one of them do not try to touch them in any way. (I know some people who touch the bell as a game with other kinds of jelly fish)

2)A normal jelly fish tentacle injects its venom by piercing the target with thousands of tiny cells shaped much like hairs. These cells release venom along the entire shaft of the hair, quickly sending venem directly into the blood stream. In an Irukandji jelly fish however, venom is injected solely from the tip of the cells much like a snake fang. (This accounts for the delayed reaction in pain and other symptoms)

3)An Irukandji jelly fish's venom is over a hundred times more potent than that of the box jelly fish. Luckily they are so small that a sting from one doesnt yeild nearly as much in quantity. The end result is still death if left untreated, but it gives a window of 5-20 minutes to get to a hospital for treatment before being overcome with pain

Some of the symptoms described were intense pain, vomiting, doubled blood pressure, and tripled heart rate. (there may be more that i am unaware of, but the pain was described on a scale from 1 to 10 as being a 9 on the worst possible pain imaginable) After being stung it isn't uncommon for a person to continue what they were doing without realizing what has happened until some time later. If you are in any tropical or warm watered area and you begin to experience these symptoms head imediately to the nearest hospital.

I would advise anyone going out in a boat or going swimming in an area where jelly fish of any type are know to be, to bring with them a small bottle of vinegar. When applied to the jelly fish sting it neutralizes the cells and prevents any unfired cells from realeasing their venem later. Alternately, ammonia or urine can be used to the same effect. However, none of these methods actually treat the sting so seek help as soon as possible after contact.