Spider fish hide in the sand , so it is not easy to see it when you go to the sea. In addition, the water is not always transparent and at the seaside, where bites almost always occur, the sea waves surf raise the sand, making the visibility even more difficult. A solution to avoid the bite of the spider fish is to use shoes suitable for walking in the water, with plastic soles, which are sold in sports stores or large commercial areas. You should pay attention to the information that appears on the entrances of the beaches or from lifeguards, since there is usually an indication of the risk of spider fish bites . So, you can take the necessary precautions. What it feels like to be bitten by a spider fish When you are bitten by the spider fish you may initially think that you have stepped on a rock or a pointed shell. There is initially a mild pain, but it evolves almost immediately to an intense pain, difficult to bear, with changes in the surrounding skin, which becomes red and swollen. What to do? Keep calm and ask for help from family members or friends who accompany you and from the lifeguard to follow these steps: As soon as possible place the bite area in the hot sand; Then place the bite area in hot water for about 30 minutes. Ideally, the water temperature should be above 40ºC because the poison degrades with heat. However, be careful with water at high temperatures so as not to cause a burn. This procedure will only take effect if performed in the first 30 minutes after the bite. If you are unable to use hot water, try to bring another source of heat to the bite area, for example a lighted cigarette, carefully and without touching the lesion directly; Oral therapy for pain relief with analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, respectively, can also be used; Check if any spider fish thorns have broken and remained on the skin. If so, you will need to remove it. The visible spines must be removed without using the hands directly, for example with forceps; Disinfect the bite site, as you do with another common wound; If after these steps you do not feel pain relief, you should seek medical help. Local anesthesia, for example in the form of sprays that are often available, should not be used . It is contraindicated because at first the pain relieves due to vasoconstriction, but it does not prevent the venom of the spider fish from continuing to circulate in the bloodstream. What should you never do when you are bitten by a spider fish? Place ice in the sting area; Touch the spines with your hands directly on the lesion; Cover the sting wound; Urinate on the injury. How the pain evolves Spider fish bite pain can last between 2 hours and 24 hours , and most people bitten by spider fish do not need to be seen by a physician. If you have any of the following symptoms you will need medical care , so you should go to an urgent care service: Hypersensitivity to the poison, with exuberant swelling and pain; Intense and permanent pain, after treatment with immersion in hot water and oral medication; Persistent fever after the first 24 hours; Nausea, vomiting, dizziness or headache; Hypersudoresis (excessive sweating); Muscle contracture in the bite area; Inability to remove visible thorns in the skin; bite in the face or genital area. ATTENTION: Emergency medical services should be activated immediately, via telephone number 112 , when a person bitten by a spider fish has signs of shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, convulsions, intense skin rash (red spots on the skin) , edema (swelling) with voice change or chest pain. Author : Liliana Beirão More information about Urgent Care at Hospital da Luz. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
