Frequency and gravity of human envenomations caused by marine catfish (suborder siluroidei): a clinical and epidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
Catfish occur in marine and freshwater environments worldwide. They have three serrated venomous bony stings in the dorsal and pectoral fins that are used for defence against predators and are refilled by glandular tissues under the epithelium. However, some catfishes do not have poisonous glands next to the sting and cause traumatic wounds without poisoning. The objective of this study was to provide data for, and comment on, the epidemiological and clinical problems caused by marine catfish.


METHODS
The authors have observed, followed and documented 127 injuries caused by marine catfish stings during different phases of the envenoming over a time period of 8 years at three points along the Western Atlantic Ocean coast.


RESULTS
The patients presented intense pain during the acute phase of envenoming and complications, such as bacterial and fungi infections and retention of bony fragments, in the later phase. Immersion of the affected extremity in hot water was used in about 20% of cases with excellent results.


CONCLUSIONS
Injuries caused by marine catfish are common (about 20% of injuries caused by marine animals in a series of more than 700 injuries recorded by the author) and cause intense pain and later complications. Immersion of the affected extremity in hot water results in improvement in the acute phase, but does not prevent the appearance of secondary infection or foreign body reactions.
Haddad
Vidal
V
Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Caixa Postal 557, 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. haddadjr@fmb.unesp.br
Martins
Itamar Alves
IA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002397:Catfishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005397:Fish Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D005397:Fish Venoms