Chris Wheaton
Info
Divers with compressed air tanks may be lucky enough to encounter this scorpionfish in its deeper habitat, while swimmers and snorkelers are less likely to see it.
The body, head and fins of §lat are scarlet to orange-brown with red spots, and irregular red stripes can be seen on the fins.
The dorsal spines are also red.
Not all members of the scorpionfishes possess venomous fin rays, but venomous species are known from the following scorpionfish genera: Apistus, Apistops, Centropogon, Coridacrylus, Gymnapistes, Helicolenus, Hypodytes, Inimicus, Minous, Notesthes, Scorpaena, Scorpaenopsis, and Sebasticu.
Symptoms: scorpionfishes cause most accidents from the range of actively poisonous fishes.
Most often the accidents occur during fishing or processing in the kitchen, as the animals are popular food fish.
Severe pain with radiation to the whole affected limb, local swelling, local paresthesia, local necrosis, puncture wounds, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, sweating, syncope. No fatalities have been reported. Portions of the sting or venom glands may remain in the wound and cause necrosis or wound healing problems.
Measures: Because the venom is heat labile, the hot water method is recommended. This involves holding the affected limb in tolerably hot water (temperature approx. 45°C). It is important to avoid additional damage, such as scalding. Because of the possible damage and the effectiveness, which has not been studied in a controlled manner, this method is considered controversial.
Pain can be controlled by injecting a local anesthetic around and into the wound (e.g., lidocaine 1%). Further measures are symptomatic.
In the clinic, radiological clarification is to be performed to determine whether there are still spiny parts in the wound, as well as appropriate surgical treatment.
The blisters are to be opened and drained. It is envisioned that this will reduce further tissue damage from the toxin.
Source: http://www.gifte.de/Gifttiere/skorpionsfische.htm
The body, head and fins of §lat are scarlet to orange-brown with red spots, and irregular red stripes can be seen on the fins.
The dorsal spines are also red.
Not all members of the scorpionfishes possess venomous fin rays, but venomous species are known from the following scorpionfish genera: Apistus, Apistops, Centropogon, Coridacrylus, Gymnapistes, Helicolenus, Hypodytes, Inimicus, Minous, Notesthes, Scorpaena, Scorpaenopsis, and Sebasticu.
Symptoms: scorpionfishes cause most accidents from the range of actively poisonous fishes.
Most often the accidents occur during fishing or processing in the kitchen, as the animals are popular food fish.
Severe pain with radiation to the whole affected limb, local swelling, local paresthesia, local necrosis, puncture wounds, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, sweating, syncope. No fatalities have been reported. Portions of the sting or venom glands may remain in the wound and cause necrosis or wound healing problems.
Measures: Because the venom is heat labile, the hot water method is recommended. This involves holding the affected limb in tolerably hot water (temperature approx. 45°C). It is important to avoid additional damage, such as scalding. Because of the possible damage and the effectiveness, which has not been studied in a controlled manner, this method is considered controversial.
Pain can be controlled by injecting a local anesthetic around and into the wound (e.g., lidocaine 1%). Further measures are symptomatic.
In the clinic, radiological clarification is to be performed to determine whether there are still spiny parts in the wound, as well as appropriate surgical treatment.
The blisters are to be opened and drained. It is envisioned that this will reduce further tissue damage from the toxin.
Source: http://www.gifte.de/Gifttiere/skorpionsfische.htm
