Heated Debates: Hot-Water Immersion or Ice Packs as First Aid for Cnidarian Envenomations?

Toxins (Basel). 2016 Apr 1;8(4):97. doi: 10.3390/toxins8040097.

Abstract

Cnidarian envenomations are an important public health problem, responsible for more deaths than shark attacks annually. For this reason, optimization of first-aid care is essential. According to the published literature, cnidarian venoms and toxins are heat labile at temperatures safe for human application, which supports the use of hot-water immersion of the sting area(s). However, ice packs are often recommended and used by emergency personnel. After conducting a systematic review of the evidence for the use of heat or ice in the treatment of cnidarian envenomations, we conclude that the majority of studies to date support the use of hot-water immersion for pain relief and improved health outcomes.

Keywords: Cubozoa; Hydrozoa; Scyphozoa; first aid; hot-water immersion; ice packs; jellyfish; sting; venom.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings / therapy*
  • Cnidaria
  • Cnidarian Venoms / toxicity*
  • Cryotherapy*
  • Hot Temperature / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

  • Cnidarian Venoms