KARACHI, June 16: Bluebottle bites could prove dangerous for persons with compromised or weakened immunity and also for people prone to allergies, said two professors on Monday.

They told Dawn that the people who, after being bitten, develop nausea and start having fits should immediately be taken to doctors for consultation. One of them said that cases had been reported in the West in which the bitten persons had died.

“Normally, the bluebottle stings are not very dangerous. But things could be different if the victim has a weak immunity or develops allergies rather easily,” said Dr Quddusi B. Kazmi, the director of the Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre.

Things could take a dangerous turn also when a person is attacked by several bluebottles simultaneously. The professor said her son had to be taken to doctors after one such episode.

She said that a bluebottle bite victim might develop cramps. Similarly, his/her pulse rate could drop rapidly.

Prof Quddusi said the bluebottle — also known as the “Portuguese Man of War” — was not the only marine creature that could create serious problems for the beach-goers. “Certain types of fish, for instance puffer fish, scorpion fish and stingray fish, can all create headaches for them.”

She said some species of crabs, besides sea urchin, were also notorious in this regard.

Prof M. Afzal Kazmi of Karachi University said the scientific name of bluebottle was physalia which belonged to the cnidaria group. He said the creature had a blue ‘float’, filled with air, which enabled it to stay afloat even in rough weather.

Attached to the float are scores of tentacles, known as ‘zoids’ in scientific parlance. These tentacles produced neuro-toxins which could prove to be dangerous for people with weak immunity.

Prof Afzal advises that the bluebottle victim should not rub the area where he is stung. “Rather, he should first try to remove the tentacles from the skin. And remember, rubbing will only aggravate the problem because the zoids will go deeper into the skin.”

The two professors said the affected area should be washed with sea water. “And if onion or vinegar is available, apply some to this area.” They added that alcohol or diluted ammonia, if available, could also be applied.

Regarding precautions, the two professors said people should refrain from swimming in the part of the sea apparently infested with bluebottles. “You see, bluebottles can be seen from the beach. And if there are a lot of them around, a chain of them is created on the waves,” said Dr Quddusi.

“So, the first precaution is that people should not bathe in the part of the sea having a lot of bluebottles. The second precaution is that onion and vinegar should be at hand. Thirdly, if the bitten person starts vomiting or having fits, he should be taken to the doctors immediately.”

Meanwhile, Rizwan Edhi told Dawn on Sunday that more than 1,000 people, mostly children, had been stung by bluebottles during the weekend in the Seaview area alone. Most of the affected people only required first aid.

He said that in most of the cases, the affected areas were washed, the zoids removed and then a popular antiseptic solution was applied.

Rizwan Edhi, Prof Quddusi Kazmi and Dr Afzal Kazmi pointed out that July was usually considered to be the peak season for bluebottles. However, for some reason the season seemed to have peaked one month early, they added.