Not the Deadliest Catch

Not the Deadliest Catch

Today we’ll stray from the normal, fairly familiar foot issues to take a look at a relatively
rare cause of complications in podiatric medicine, that is, unless you’re a fisherman.

Catfish are the fifth most popular fish in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, there are over
3,000 different species of catfish worldwide, many of which are venomous to humans.
The feline-like fish possess venom glands in their “armpits” (the area just behind their
front gills), as well as glands in their dorsal fin (the one on top) and the pectoral fin
barbels (the fins on the sides). The fins are made of sharp teeth that can cut deep into
your skin, allowing for extensive tissue exposure and better absorption of the venom.
Again, soft-tissue infections caused by catfish envenomation are very uncommon to the
everyday podiatric medical office, but they do occur.

In the medical literature, most reported cases involve people stepping on, dropping or
kicking catfish and having a portion of the spine or fins embedded into their foot. Should
this ever happen to you, symptoms will include pain, redness, swelling, muscle twitches,
electric shocks and possible tissue death.

Due to the large diversity of the species, there is no definitive treatment regimen for
catfish stings. The most common treatments would include local wound care, removal of
any foreign bodies and antibiotic therapy.

The most important lesson to take away from this strange scenario is should you ever
find yourself stung or pierced by a catfish, whether at a farmers market or on the open
sea, don’t delay medical treatment. You should see your doctor immediately! Happy
Sailing!

InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Dr. Bruce Werber
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-948-2111
www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com