The symptoms of a jellyfish sting can vary depending on the severity of the sting and the type and size of the jellyfish. Most jellyfish stings are not emergencies but they are often uncomfortable so expect pain, red marks, itching, numbness and tingling with a typical sting.

We spoke to Hussain Abdeh, clinical director and superintendent pharmacist of Medicine Direct, for jellyfish sting symptoms, complications and treatment advice: What is a jellyfish sting? Serious jellyfish sting symptoms can affect more than one body system and may require urgent medical attention. 'In this situation, the reaction may occur immediately or hours after you have been stung,' says Abdeh.If you get stung by a jellyfish on or near the delicate eye area, seek urgent medical attention. 'If you are stung in or near the eye, you will need to have your eye flushed by a specialist,' says Abdeh. 7. Seek medical attention Most jellyfish stings can be treated with simple first aid, while some may need full medical treatment. 'Treatment will depend on the type of jellyfish that stung you, how severe the sting is and how your body reacts to it,' explains Abdeh. Jellyfish don't deliberately target humans, but people are often stung when they accidentally brush against the tentacles. 'The tentacles have microscopic triggers on the surface which release the stingers,' adds Abdeh. 'These stingers penetrate the skin and release venom into your body. If jellyfish have washed up on the beach, these stingers can still be released if you touch them.' The severity of the sting varies depending on the type of jellyfish you were stung by and how large it was,' says Abdeh. 'The length of time you were exposed to the stingers and your age can also have an impact. Severe reactions are more common in children and adults who are unwell.' There are more than 2,000 species of jellyfish in the world and not all of them sting. Some look like small blobs or floating plastic bags, while others are much bigger and more colourful. Jellyfish have tentacles hanging beneath them which they use to catch their prey, and it's these tentacles that sting.

First things first: peeing on a jellyfish sting to treat it is a myth, so don't do it! 2. Rinse with fresh water Take pain relief medicine such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease discomfort from the jellyfish sting. 6. Consider allergy medicineRemove any jellyfish spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card. 'Most stings can be treated with first-aid, which will mean carefully removing the visible stingers with tweezers,' says Abdeh. 4. Soak the sting in warm water For simple jellyfish sting first aid treatment, try the following: 1. Do not pee on a jellyfish sting Soak the skin in very warm water, as hot as can be tolerated and use hot flannels or towels if necessary. 'The skin should be soaked in hot water for at least 20 minutes,' says Abdeh. 5. Take pain relief medicine Antihistamines are drugs which are used to treat allergic rhinitis and other allergies. If you develop a skin rash or other symptoms of a delayed reaction similar to an allergic reaction, oral medication may be prescribed, says Abdeh. 'Oral antihistamines or corticosteroids are commonly prescribed in these situations, sometimes alongside a painkiller,' he says.

Jellyfish have long tentacles that trail from their bodies,' explains Abdeh, 'and these tentacles have thousands of tiny, barbed stingers that are filled with venom.'