What does a jellyfish sting look like?

The symptoms of a jellyfish sting usually include an itchy, sometimes painful rash. If more severe this rash may blister, before filling with pus and rupturing.

The jellyfish might also leave a print of its tentacle, which usually shows in red, brown, or purple marks. The skin will feel very sensitive and sore.

Many types of jellyfish are harmless to humans, In the UK many jelly fish stings are more like getting stung by nettles and cause a similar tingly rash. The types of jelly fish in the UK waters which cause more intense stings are the lion's mane and the mauve stinger which can give electric shock like stings. Whilst still rare, the Portuguese man o'war is being found more frequently on the west coast of the UK.

How long you are exposed to the stingers also impacts the severity of a sting, as does how much of your skin that is affected. Children are most likely to have severe reactions, along with people who have other health conditions.

In rare cases some people who have been stung may have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxie) and will require emergency care.

Most people will feel an intense pain immediately after the sting - which usually lasts between 1-2 hours. The itchy sensation, on the other hand, can last up to a week, and several weeks in more severe cases.

Some jellyfish stings may cause a reaction across your entire body, including:

• Nausée.

• Faiblesse.

• Muscle spasms.

• Douleurs d'estomac.

• Transpiration excessive.

• Maux de tête.

If you are holidaying in a foreign country, after following the above steps, you should seek medical treatment, since you’re likely to be less informed on what has stung you - it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If your tetanus vaccination is not up to date, you will need to see a doctor to get a booster shot.

In rare cases, jellyfish stings can be life-threatening. As the sting develops, there’s a chance you might need urgent medical attention.

Sometimes jellyfish stings can become infectées. Please see a doctor immediately if you have any of the signs of an infection, such as the wound becoming more painful, more redness, or you develop a fever.

You should not pee on a jellyfish sting. This is just a myth and there is no evidence that pee has any benefit.

In fact, studies have shown the opposite. Your pee contains compounds such as ammonia and urea, which could be helpful on their own if you’ve been stung. However, since pee contains a lot of water, rinsing your sting with it means the ammonia and urea will be too diluted to be of any use.

First aid treatment is the primary concern when dealing with jellyfish stings. You should focus on removing the tentacles from your skin and treating the contacted area to avoid the further release of nematocysts - the thousands of tiny cells on their tentacles.

Responding quickly after a sting can avoid an increase in venom load and potentially save a life.