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Stonefish
Definition:
Poisoning from a sting from a stonefish.

Poisonous Ingredient:
  • stonefish venom
Where Found:
  • stonefish
  • related species
Symptoms:
  • body as a whole
  • respiratory
  • 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
  • nervous system
Home Treatment:
Wash the area with fresh water. Remove any foreign material at the wound site. Contact an emergency room. Soak wound in as hot of water as 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, or a local emergency number:
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.
Expectations (prognosis):
Recovery usually takes about 24-48 hours. Death has occurred when the patient's chest or abdomen was punctured.
Review Date: 1/18/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial.
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