Bitten by a Spider Fish in Portugal… What’s Next?
It all begins with an idea.
Imagine walking along the white sands of Alvor Poente beach in Portimão. You feel the warmth of the sun, the gentle sea breeze and the fine grands of sand between your toes. Life is good. Suddenly, you think you stepped on something….maybe it was a rock? But that initial mild pain you felt quickly becomes intense, and your foot turns red and swollen. What happened and what do you do?
Along the coast of Portugal, spider fish or “peixe-aranha” are common. They hide in the sand making it easy for beachgoers to accidentally come into contact with them when entering the water. This can result in a bite, a sting, or more accurately, stepping on the spider fish spines which contain poisonous venom. So what do you do?
First, tell someone. Your family or friends and the lifeguard may be able to assist you with first aid. Then, check to see if there are any parts remaining in your foot. If so, remove them carefully with a tweezer. Next, quickly disinfect the area, and within 30 minutes, begin soaking the foot in hot water (with vinegar if available) to break down the toxin. Keep the foot in hot water as much as possible for the next 12 hours. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol or paracetamol if you’re overseas) can be used for pain and swelling. Expect the pain to resolve anywhere from 2 to 24 hours later. Seek medical attention if additional symptoms occur, and call for emergency medical services if there are signs of a severe allergic reaction like shortness of breath, swelling with a change in voice, chest pain, loss of consciousness or seizure.
If you’d prefer to avoid coming in contact with spider fish, look for signs posted at the entrance of the beach that indicate the risk of spider fish bites so you can take the necessary precautions, and consider wearing shoes with a plastic sole that are suitable for walking in the water. So be bold! Enjoy the warmth of the Portuguese sun, amazing views, and delicious food, but remember to tread carefully. Safe travels.