Fishhook Injuries

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Signs of shock, such as rapid breathing, weakness, and a feeling of passing out, develop:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Severe bleeding has not slowed during the first 15 minutes of direct pressure. See how to stop bleeding.
• A fishhook has punctured an eyeball. See first aid for an eye injury.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Yes	Do you have a fishhook in your eyelid or near your eye, but it has not punctured your eyeball? Note: Do not try to remove the hook.
Yes	Do you have a fishhook in a joint, a bone, a muscle, or deep in the skin? Note: Do not try to remove the hook.
Yes	Are you unable to remove a fishhook using home treatment?
Yes	Do you have bleeding from a fishhook injury?
Yes	Do you have numbness or tingling near the site of a fishhook injury?
Yes	Has the skin near a fishhook injury turned pale, white, blue, or cold?
Yes	Are you unable to move normally after a fishhook injury?
Yes	Do you think you have an infection?
Yes	Do you think you may need stitches?
Yes	Are you unable to clean your fishhook injury using home treatment?
Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: July 6, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.