Glossary of Key Terms
Glossary of Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
| Anaphylaxis | A severe allergic reaction that can cause symptoms like difficulty breathing and heart palpitations, requiring urgent medical intervention. |
| Antihistamine | A type of medication used to relieve symptoms of allergic reactions, particularly severe itching. |
| Antivenom | A specific medical treatment designed to neutralize the effects of venom, used for stings from highly toxic species like the Box Jellyfish. |
| Box Jellyfish (Kutu Deniz Anası) | A species of jellyfish, found primarily in Australian and Indo-Pacific waters, that possesses an extremely powerful and potentially fatal venom. |
| Jellyfish Sting (Deniz Anası Sokması) | The correct medical term for the biochemical reaction caused by the injection of venom from a jellyfish’s tentacles into the skin. It is often referred to colloquially as a “jellyfish bite.” |
| Local Symptoms | Physical reactions that are confined to the immediate area of the sting, such as pain, redness, swelling, itching, and track-like marks. |
| Nematocyst | Microscopic, capsule-like stinging cells located on a jellyfish’s tentacles. Each nematocyst contains a tiny, coiled, needle-like tube that injects venom upon contact. |
| Sea Lice (Deniz Biti) | The microscopic larval stage of jellyfish. These larvae can stick to the skin and cause itchy, red rashes. |
| Systemic Symptoms | Reactions that affect the entire body, occurring when the venom spreads or triggers a severe allergic response. These include nausea, headache, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. |
| Tentacles | The long, thread-like appendages extending from a jellyfish’s body. They are equipped with thousands of nematocysts used for hunting and defense. |