Cnidaria Envenomation Medication

  • Author: G Patrick Daubert, MD; Chief Editor: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM   more...
 
Updated: Apr 29, 2010
 

Medication Summary

Analgesics and local anesthetics can be used to ameliorate pain associated with these bites. Antivenom exists for box jellyfish (C fleckeri). Chironex antivenom will cross react with Chiropsalmus species venom to prevent neurotoxic and myotoxic effects. However, it has not prevented cardiovascular effects in vivo. Antivenom is available in Australia and is produced by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.

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Antivenom

Class Summary

These agents neutralize toxins.

Box Jellyfish Antivenom

 

Box jellyfish antivenom is ovine-based concentrated immunoglobulins. Each ampule contains sufficient activity to neutralize 20,000 IV mouse doses of C fleckeri venom. Chironex antivenom will cross react with Chiropsalmus species venom to prevent neurotoxic and myotoxic effects. However, it has not prevented cardiovascular effects in vivo. Box jellyfish antivenom is available from Commonwealth Serum Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

G Patrick Daubert, MD  Assistant Professor, Assistant Medical Director, Sacramento Division, California Poison Control System; Director of Clinical and Medical Toxicology Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center

G Patrick Daubert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American Medical Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Dana A Stearns, MD  Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dana A Stearns, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

A Antoine Kazzi, MD  Chair and Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

A Antoine Kazzi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM  Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School; Medical Director, WeCare Med, Inc

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Cnidaria and jellyfish envenomations. Close-up photograph of sea anemone demonstrating tentacles surrounding the central mouth structure. Contact with tentacles results in discharge of nematocysts. Photo courtesy of Scott A. Gallagher, MD.
Cnidaria and jellyfish envenomations. Close-up photograph of a sea anemone demonstrating one of several tentacle types observed among different species. Photo courtesy of Scott A. Gallagher, MD.
 
 
 
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