Qld: Experts give wrong advice on bluebottle stings

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2006
Qld: Experts give wrong advice on bluebottle stings

Researchers say medical experts are misleading us on how to treat jellyfish stings.

Thousands of bluebottle stings happen in Australia every year .. proving a daily medical
problem for surf lifesavers.

For decades .. first-aid bodies .. including the International Life Saving Federation
.. have recommended ice-pack treatment to stem pain after an attack.

But it's the opposite of what should be done .. according to a study published in this
month's Medical Journal of Australia.

The survey reveals heat packs and hot showers reduced the intensity and pain duration
of a bluebottle sting significancy more than cold treatment.





The journal's reported the study of 100 people .. stung by the jellyfish in eastern
Australian oceans .. has been undertaken because there's no scientific evidence to indicate
cold packs ease the pain of bluebottle stings.

AAP RTV sjk/goc/

KEYWORD: BLUEBOTTLE (BRISBANE)

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