Irukandji: From 1 Different Sources
A jellyfish and a syndrome name derived from the name of a tribe of Aboriginals near Palm Cove, Cairns in north Queensland where many jellyfish stings with severe systemic symptoms were first reported (and still occur).
Also known as the Irukandji, Carukia is a small, virtually invisible, box-jellyfish with a single tentacle in each corner (carybdeid). The sting may be quite mild, and is sometimes not visible on the skin. However, some 30 minutes after the sting a number of severe systemic symptoms called the Irukandji syndrome occur. The symptoms include severe low back pain, muscle cramps in all 4 limbs and the chest wall, restlessness, anxiety, and a “feeling of potential doom” (often shared by the first aider!). Severe hypertension and pulmonary oedema may occur, which may become life-threatening, although no deaths have been reported to date. The effects are believed to be due to the excess release of catecholamines.... carukia barnesi
Hormones released by the body under any stressful reaction, or after envenomation (eg Irukandji), that affect the circulatory system, often increasing heart rate and blood pressure.... catecholamines
An illness suffered by divers when diving too deep, or too long and characterised bynitrogen bubbles forming in the tissues of the body. This may cause a multitude of symptoms although joint pains are those most-commonly encountered. Confusion may be caused in divers that have suffered an Irukandji sting as the symptoms have some similarities. See also, cerebral gas embolism.... decompression illness (dci)
A small hydroid found aro und the world. It is usually innocuous, but in one small area of the northern Honshu island of Japan, and in a similar area on the opposite side of the Sea of Japan around Vladivostock, a sting causes severe systemic symptoms very similar to the Irukandji syndrome. Similar to Irukandji stings, Gonionemus stings occur in epidemics with more in some years than others. It has not caused a proven death, although some unproven deaths have been claimed in the past.... gonionemus
The colloquial name for a number of large box-jellyfish with a single tentacle in each corner. There are probably a number of species that are grouped under this name. The sting causes a burning pain to the skin and rarely, a mild Irukandji syndrome. See also: Moreton Bay carybdeid, and Fire jelly.... morbakka
A siphonophore or hydrozoan colony that is usually regarded as a jellyfish by non-biological people. It has a float, rather than a bell, and the tentacle(s) hang beneath. There are two main varieties: 1. Physalia utriculus. A single-tentacled species common in the warmer waters of the world, and especially common on the eastern seaboard of Australia where it causes some 10,000-odd stings each summer. No deaths have ever been reported, and usually it causes mild-to moderate skin pain and possibly some aching pains in the draining lymph glands in the leg or armpit. 2. Physalia physalis. The multi-tentacled species found world-wide, but commonly on both side of the North Atlantic. Stings are common on the eastern coast of the United States and have now caused 3 deaths as well as manysevere systemic symptoms. Specimens may have a float length of up to 25cm with tentacles up to 30m in length. Some severe systemic symptoms resemble a modified Irukandji syndrome with painful breathing, muscle cramps, anxietyand sweating.... physalia
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