Specific indications include cardiorespiratory arrest or cardiac arrythmias, difficulty with breathing, speech or swallowing, severe pain, extensive skin lesions, or skin lesions in cosmetically important areas such as face, neck, hands and forearms. In hospital, intravenous antivenom should be administered promptly if it has not already been given or if the patient remains symptomatic. Assisted ventilation and narcotic analgesia may be required. Early administration of antivenom may result in reduced pain and decreased scarring secondary to dermatonecrosis. Chiropsalmus quadrigata Box jellyfish antivenom has been shown experimentally to neutralize Chiropsalmus venom, but clinical experience is lacking.
First aid consists of analgesia and reassurance.
Cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac failure may also require treatment, including inotropic support. No definitive treatment is currently available for the Irukandji syndrome. First aid consists of removal of the tentacles, preferably with forceps. Vinegar is not recommended. Other types of Jellyfish Vinegar is suitable for most other types of stings.