What's that stinging feeling when I swim in the sea?
When I swim in the sea around Singapore, I get stinging/prickling/electric sensations on my skin in certain areas of the water sometimes. There aren't any visible creatures nearby.
What are these?
I don't remember having any itching or symptoms on my skin after that, although I could try it again and observe for any itching or red patches a few days after.
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I think a reasonable guess would be jellyfish larvae, also known as "sea lice."
Sea lice are actually the microscopic larvae of jellyfish and other ocean stingers which contain the same nematocysts (stinging cells) as mommy and daddy. (They) are probably the most commonly encountered stinging threat to divers and swimmers at the beach.
There's a wide range of symptoms:
Common symptoms of sea lice stings include an intensely itchy red rash with small blisters and elevated areas of skin. These painful and unsightly lesions may appear anywhere on the body but are often concentrated in areas covered by swimwear as large numbers of larvae often become trapped in these regions. Severe reactions to sea lice exposure may include fever, chills, headaches, nausea and vomiting, especially in children. Extreme allergic reactions may require hospitalization in rare cases.
I've used these resources from "Buy Safe Sea" but googling "Singapore sea lice" will bring up many references to a stinging sensation from these tiny creatures.
Make sure to read this article about Seabather's eruption.
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