Palm Island, north of Townsville, is surrounded by turquoise ocean, but the prevalence of bluebottles and Irukandji jellyfish is a curse of summer in the tropics.

An increasing number of children are being stung by potentially deadly jellyfish off the humid North Queensland island, which lacks safe swimming options.

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service said the number of people stung this year had almost doubled compared with previous years.

There have been 23 stings and seven hospital admissions for Irukandji syndrome in 2020, compared with 12 stings and no hospitalisations during the whole of 2019.

The medical superintendent at Palm Island's hospital, Bryce Nicol, said people with Irukandji syndrome often experienced chest and abdominal pain, severe sweating and high blood pressure.

"We are very lucky in the last year that we haven't [transported patients to the mainland], but it's only a matter of time," Dr Nicol said.

"It's a lot more dangerous to be stung by a jellyfish here on Palm Island than it is in Townsville.

"There are limited medical resources and often long delays in the Queensland Ambulance Service being able to get to children if they're in a remote area."

Dr Nicol said most of this year's victims were aged between seven and 12 years of age.

"It concerns me that these children are often not sure why they're getting stung," Dr Nicol said.

He said more education and signage was required to warn of the risks, vinegar should be accessible on beaches, and unpopular stinger suits should be worn.

Palm Island's only substitutes to cool off are swimming holes and creeks after the wet season and hoses in backyards.

By comparison, Townsville has a rock pool, splash parks, public pools, and stinger nets to protect swimmers from some stingers.

"Most children will do anything to get wet come a hot summer, so I think it's really important that we think about some alternate activities," Dr Nicol said.

The Queensland Government has budgeted $3 million to build a splash park on the island.

Mayor Mislam Sam said the council, which is trying to claw itself out of debt, was still deciding whether it wanted to take on the burden of ongoing costs.

"We're just waiting to have a bit more discussion with the State Government in regards to the operational expenses," Cr Sam said.

He said stinger enclosures were not on the agenda because they would not prevent Irukandji jellyfish from entering.

Some children at the Palm Island jetty this week said other swimming options, including a splash park, would not keep them out of the sea.

"Let's just put a big slide going into the ocean," 12-year-old Pita Morgan said.

Kalynda Thompson, 12, who was stung last year, said she had become nervous but still swam.

"Made me fear the water. I might get stung again," she said.

Cr Sam said it was difficult to stop locals from swimming in the "picture-perfect and pristine water", especially during hot weather.

"We've just got to learn to live in our natural environment," Cr Sam said.

"We live off the sea, we dive in the sea. It's the basis of our existence, it plays an integral part in all cultural and spiritual beliefs of all islanders."

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Jellyfish stings on the rise off Palm Island, as summer brings bluebottles and Irukandji - ABC News