Irukandji syndrome
What is Irukandji syndrome? venom. Contact with skin causes the Irukandji syndrome consists of a diverse range nematocysts to rapidly fire injecting highly of symptoms that can occur following a sting toxic venom into the tissue. from one of a variety of types of box jellyfish. What are the signs and symptoms? The syndrome can be mild for some and severe and life-threatening in others. The person may or may not feel a mild pain at the sting site and develop a goose bump-like What type of jellyfish causes Irukandji skin reaction. After about 30 minutes syndrome? symptoms worsen to include severe limb, abdominal and back pain, anxiety, headache, There are about 14 different box jellyfish that vomiting, profuse sweating and sometimes can cause Irukandji syndrome. The bell of the difficulty breathing. Their heart rate may box jellyfish is a ‘box shape’ with a single become very rapid and their blood pressure tentacle arising from each of the 4 corners. may become very high. In extreme cases, heart The tentacles range in length from a few cm to failure, swelling of the brain and death may 35 cm. These box jellyfish are difficult to see in result. water as they are colourless with a bell of 2.5cm diameter or smaller. In some cases the symptoms resolve in a matter of hours, however many patients Where are these jellyfish found? require hospital admission with full resolution The jellyfish that cause Irukandji syndrome of symptoms taking up to several days. have been found along Australia’s northern Complications from envenomation may coastline from Fraser Island in Queensland continue for several days to weeks. across the Northern Territory to Broome in north Western Australia. Irukandji syndrome What is the treatment for Irukandji has also been reported in parts of Asia, the syndrome? Caribbean and Hawaii. pour vinegar if available on the area of the sting to stop further discharge from What time of the year does Irukandji nematocysts – do not wash with fresh syndrome occur? water Irukandji syndrome has been recorded in the seek urgent medical assistance and Northern Territory all year round. Stings occur transport to hospital for assessment less frequently during the dry season. Around watch closely for difficulty breathing and 40 people present to Top End hospitals or loss of consciousness. health clinics each year with a condition attributed to a jellyfish sting some of which will How do I prevent Irukandji syndrome? be Irukandji syndrome. Wear protective clothing at all times if entering the water. Small children especially How does envenomation occur? need protective clothing. Long sleeved tops or The bell and tentacles contain millions of rash-shirts and long pants will provide a good ‘nematocysts’ which store and can inject
September 2015 Centre for Disease Control – Irukandji syndrome
level of protection but a full-body lycra suit is has 10-12 tentacles at each corner of up to 2 better. metres or more in length. It is extremely venomous causing immediate severe pain and What is the difference between the the appearance of white welts within minutes jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome followed by red whip-like lines which may later and the major box jellyfish Chironex blister. In some cases cardiac arrest and death fleckeri? occurs within 5 minutes of being stung by a Chironex fleckeri jellyfish. The adult major box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, has a larger bell of 25-30 cm in diameter and
For more information contact the Centre for Disease Control in your region
Alice Springs 8951 7540 Darwin 8922 8044 Katherine 8973 9049 Nhulunbuy 8987 0357 Tennant Creek 8962 4259 or https://health.nt.gov.au/professionals/centre-for-disease-control/cdc-contacts
September 2015 Centre for Disease Control – Irukandji syndrome