Intracerebral hemorrhage and death after envenoming by the jellyfish Carukia barnesi.
BACKGROUND
Irukandji syndrome is because of envenoming by a number of small jellyfish. It results in a delayed onset of generalized pain, sweating hypertension, and tachycardia. There is no antivenom.


METHODS
A 44-year-old healthy male was stung while swimming in NE Australia. He rapidly developed Irukandji syndrome. He had a rapid deterioration in conscious level because of an intracerebral hemorrhage. He developed left ventricular failure with an elevated troponin (34 mcg/L, N < 0.4) requiring inotropic support. He progressed to brain death and died on day 13 poststing. Nematocysts recovered from the patient skin were consistent with a large Carukia barnesi.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first case of a death because of Irukandji syndrome where the jellyfish Carukia barnesi has been demonstrated to the causative creature.
Pereira
Peter
P
Department of Emergency Medicine, Cairns Base Hospital, Australia.
Barry
Jane
J
Corkeron
Michael
M
Keir
Pip
P
Little
Mark
M
Seymour
Jamie
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D037462:Cubozoa; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000139:chemically induced
D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D014336:Troponin