Weever fish stings

Abstract

There are various species of weever fish (Maltese traċna). A list of fish belonging to the family Trachnideae in the Mediterranean is provided. They can inflict painful stings on the feet of victims walking or paddling in very shallow sandy waters. When the fish attacks its victim it injects a neurotoxin which causes considerable pain. The paucity of medical literature about this subject, and the vagueness of the different methods of treatment and management described have prompted the author to write this paper. All the cases listed Seen by the author in the last five years have recovered completely. None of the patients needed transfer to hospital and no one developed any residual weakness or paralysis. An injection of a local anesthetic has so far always produced good results and is by far a more sterile procedure.