6-year-old stung by clinging jellyfish in New Jersey river

BRICK, N.J. (WABC) -- A 6-year-old girl has recovered after a painful encounter with a rare and invasive jellyfish species while playing in the Metedeconk River.

Amelia was in the water when she suddenly began experiencing intense pain, according to her mother, Julianne Colvin.

"She just started screaming. She was grabbing her chest," Colvin said.

Experts say the symptoms point to a sting from a clinging jellyfish, a species known for causing escalating pain. Dr. Paul Bologna of Montclair State University, who has studied the species for years, said its effects differ from other jellyfish stings.

"With other jellyfish, the pain starts, and then subsides. With this one, the pain just keeps building and building and building," Bologna said.

Clinging jellyfish, first identified in New Jersey in 2016, are native to the Pacific coast and are considered an invasive species in the region. They are small, about the size of a quarter, and often hide in algae, making them difficult to detect.

Amelia endured days of worsening pain, with neither her parents nor medical personnel initially able to determine the cause. Colvin said she questioned whether the condition had been properly identified.

"Am I misdiagnosing her? Was it a jellyfish? The pain just got worse even with treatment," she said.

After conducting her own research, Colvin contacted Bologna, who identified the likely source of the injury.

Researchers at Montclair State University are studying the jellyfish's life cycle to better understand how they reproduce and how to eliminate them.

For now, experts say there is some reassurance. Clinging jellyfish are sensitive to higher temperatures and tend to die off as waters warm during the season.

Amelia has since recovered from the ordeal.

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