Researching the relative merits of ice, hot water, vinegar and aluminium sulphate, the medics concluded that hot water was the only successful treatment, relieving pain in nearly 90 per cent of test cases.
While the other treatments gave short-term relief, submersion in water of 115 degrees F provided ongoing relief after four to 10 minutes, the heat also seeming to halt inflammation.
The statistics were recorded for patients suffering from relatively mild stings, but the researchers thought that hot-water treatments could contribute as a pain reliever for more severe stings too.
Findings were published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
For treatment to highly venomous, possibly fatal jellyfish stings, doctors at hospitals in Queensland have started administering infusions of magnesium sulphate, which appears to help the body close down its automatic response to venom.
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