Summary
Poisonous fish stings on the coast of Malaga, Spain: summertime incidence
Portillo Strempel A, Herrera Ceballos E, Portillo Strempel J
Affiliation of the authors
Departamento de Medicina y Dermatología. Área de Conocimiento en Dermatología. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Málaga, España. Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Centro de Salud de Estepona. Málaga, España.
DOI
Quote
Portillo Strempel A, Herrera Ceballos E, Portillo Strempel J. Poisonous fish stings on the coast of Malaga, Spain: summertime incidence. Emergencias. 2009;21:32-5
Summary
Objective: To estimate the incidence of poisonous fish stings on the coast of the
province of Malaga.
Material and methods: Data were collected from case records and by surveying the
staff at emergency rooms and other public and private health care facilities during the
summers of 1998 through 2000. Descriptive statistics were compiled for the middle
portion of that period, the summer of 1999.
Results: Fifteen fish stings per 100 000 population were estimated to have been treated
at emergency services. The incidence was higher in the eastern portion of the province.
Conclusion: The risk of fish stings is not negligible and, given the severity of some
lesions, this type of poisoning warrants consideration when summertime emergency
health care services are being planned for coastal areas.