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Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Nine

Jellyfish The jellyfish in question are the dreaded Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) and the Irukandiji Jellyfish. The Box Jellyfish is found in tropical waters around Australia. It has caused approximately 80 deaths since records began. It is a big, box shaped – hence the clever name – jellyfish and tends to be a seasonal visitor. Exposure is limited by keeping out of the water or with the use of stinger suits. Fatalities are usually from rapid onset cardiovascular collapse and whilst there is an antivenin available, often this occurs before victims make it to the hospital. Usually pain is felt immediately and tentacles form a characteristic pattern on the skin. The toxin cells or Nematocysts remain adherent to the skin and need to be carefully removed to prevent them from ‘firing’ and releasing more venom. Vinegar can be used to deactivate them and/or then manually scraping them off with a razor or credit card. Irukandiji syndrome is rarely fatal, with only about 10 recorded deaths. It is caused by a group of different small jellyfish. The pain in this case is delayed but is severe. Deaths are rare but when they occur are caused by over activation of the adrenalin “fight” reflex, which causes heart failure and cardiovascular collapse. Again, vinegar is a reasonable first aid measure as it deactivates nematocysts then in hospital we would manage the pain and high blood pressure that results. Crocodiles Crocodiles are up there but not as common a killer as you would think, with slightly over 10 fatal attacks in the last 15 years. Approximately 50% of attacks are fatal, so here first aid advice is relatively fruitless - prevention is the key! Most attacks occur in areas where crocodiles are known to be endemic, so pay attention to warning signs posted in these areas. Sharks Sharks have been getting a bad rap recently, partly due to a spate of attacks on the local Northern New South Wales coast. In recent weeks, work began to install shark nets along the Ballina coastline in a controversial attempt to control the risk to sea goers. Sharks tend to cause trouble by accidentally knicking major arteries, resulting in blood loss. First aid attempts are therefore focused on attempting to control blood loss. Direct pressure to the wounds is the only available option in most cases. That said, there have been 250 or so recorded deaths due to shark attacks on record which seems relatively insignificant compared to the 280 drowning deaths documented last year in the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report. Spiders Although Australia is famous for scary spiders, in actual fact there are only really two of medical interest. Redback spiders cause an annoying, painful condition – lactrodectism - which is rarely fatal and can be treated with anti-venom. However, Funnel Web Spiders can be very nasty! Envenomation occurs rapidly, almost always within a two-hour period and causes a florid multi-organ syndrome with skin changes, sweating, high blood pressure, agitation, muscle spasms and cardiovascular collapse. A pressure immobilisation bandage can be employed prior to getting to a hospital with the anti-venom. There have been 27 recorded deaths in the last 100 years. Octopus Number 8 on the list is a slightly unsuspecting and very attractive looking octopus. The Blue Ringed Octopus apparently carries enough of the tremendously potent tetradotoxin to kill 26 humans within minutes! This toxin causes rapid onset paralysis and causes people’s respiratory muscles to stop working. There is no anti-venom but this effect wears off if we can take over the victim’s breathing for them in time. 18 Pindara Magazine 2016


Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Nine
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