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Stonefish

Definition

Poisonous Ingredient

• stonefish venom

Where Found

• stonefish
• related species

Symptoms

• body as a whole
  • fever as a result of infection
  • muscle twitching
  • bleeding
  • severe pain radiating from the site of the sting
• respiratory
  • difficulty breathing
• heart and blood vessels
  • low or high blood pressure
  • slow or rapid heart rate
• skin
  • whitened color of the area around the site of the sting
  • color of the area changes as the amount of oxygen supplying the area decreases.
• gastrointestinal
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
• nervous system
  • headache
  • delirium
  • fainting
  • seizures
  • paralysis

Home Care

Wash the area with fresh water. Remove any foreign material at the wound site. Contact an emergency room. Soak wound in the hottest water the patient can tolerate for 30-90 minutes, if instructed to do so.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• name of the marine animal
• the time of the sting
• the area on the body of the sting

Poison Control

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital, and any appropriate first aid that can be administered prior to arrival.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Wash the area.
• Remove any foreign material possible.
• Soak the wound.
• Give antitetanus if necessary.
• Give antibiotic if necessary.
• Give antiserum .
• Treat the symptoms.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Recovery usually takes about 24-48 hours. Death has occurred when the patient's chest or abdomen was punctured.

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Review Date: 2/13/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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