This may require surgical debridement or even skin grafting. Australia has numerous stinging fish distributed throughout its waters. Many of these fish are found in tropical areas, but others are present in temperate waters or throughout Australia. Do not attempt to restrict the movement of the injected toxin. Pain relief from severe stonefish stings may require a regional nerve block.
All stonefish stings require medical attention as do most deep stings caused by other fish.
Often foreign material and bacteria are deposited quite deeply. A stonefish antivenom is available. The major clinical feature of these fish stings is immediate severe pain which may be prolonged and difficult to manage even with narcotic analgesia. The pain will usually subside within 24 hours, but swelling may persist for several days. Infiltration of the wound with local anaesthetic agents provides dramatic relief in most cases, although occasionally a regional nerve block may be required.