Impact of Stinging Jellyfish Proliferations along South Italian Coasts

Human Health Hazards, Treatment and Social Costs

Bibliographic Data

ID15499433
AuthorsAntonella De Donno (0000-0001-8349-2466, University of Salento, corresponding author), Adele Idolo (0000-0002-6049-1986, University of Salento), Francesco Bagordo (0000-0001-5208-5382, University of Salento), Tiziana Grassi (0000-0003-1200-2778, University of Salento), A Leomanni (University of Salento), Francesca Serio (0000-0002-0031-4208, University of Salento), Marcello Guido (0000-0002-7907-2677, University of Salento), Mariarita Canitano (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Lecce), Serena Zampardi (0000-0002-4636-4083, University of Salento), Ferdinando Boero (0000-0002-6317-2710, University of Salento), Stefano Piraino (0000-0002-8752-9390, University of Salento, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume11
Issue3
Pages2488-2503
Publication date2014-02-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph110302488
PMID24583831
PMCIDPMC3986988
OpenAlexW2077363509
LanguageEN
Citations received5

Stinging jellyfish outbreaks represent a health hazard, causing contact dermatitis and systemic reactions. This study investigated the epidemiology, severity, and treatment protocols of jellyfish stings in a coastal area with high tourist development and frequent stinging jellyfish outbreaks of the central Mediterranean (Salento, Southern Italy), and the associated costs for the Italian National Health Service. In 2007-2011, 1,733 bathers (mostly children and females) sought medical assistance following jellyfish stings, the main cause of human pathologies due to contact with marine organisms. The majority of events were reported in the years 2007-2009, whereas the occurrence of cnidarian jellyfish outbreaks has been increasingly reported in the same area since summer 2010. Most symptoms were limited to local and cutaneous reactions; conversely, 8.7% of cases evoked complications, mainly due to allergic reactions. The main drugs used were corticosteroids, locally applied and systemic (46% and 43%, respectively), and with ammonia (74%) as the main non-pharmacological treatment. The estimated cost of jellyfish-related first-aid services along the Salento coastline over the 5-year period was approximately 400,000 Euros. Therefore the management of jellyfish outbreak phenomena need coordinated research efforts towards a better understanding of underlying ecological mechanisms, together with the adoption of effective prevention policy, mitigation strategies, and appropriate planning of health services at tourist hot spots

Biology · Environmental health · Fishery · Geography · Human health · Jellyfish · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology · Medicine · Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research

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