Hot water, painkiller best for easing jellyfish stings

A new study finds no therapy is perfect for getting rid of pain

By Jim Borg

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 25, 2012

~~<p>A study of jellyfish stings in Hawaii and on the mainland has found no one treatment vastly superior to others, but putting hot water and a mild painkiller on the sting appears "more widely beneficial," the researchers say.</p>
<p>Applying vinegar to the sting seems to increase the pain, except with the Portuguese man-o-war, said the research team, made up of four doctors at the UC San Diego Medical Center.</p>
~~

A study of jellyfish stings in Hawaii and on the mainland has found no one treatment vastly superior to others, but putting hot water and a mild painkiller on the sting appears "more widely beneficial," the researchers say.

Applying vinegar to the sting seems to increase the pain, except with the Portuguese man-o-war, said the research team, made up of four doctors at the UC San Diego Medical Center. Login for more...