Conus snails may prey upon fish, molluscs or marine worms. Conus textile and other species that hunt molluscs may deliver a sting that is potentially life-threatening. However, the risk of death is lower than for fish hunting cone snails.
The course after envenomation takes several hours to develop, rather than the rapid course seen in Conus geographus. Children may have a more serious course.
Clinical findings:
(1) pain occurs after being stung, followed shortly by numbness around the site of the sting
(2) numbness and swelling occurs in the stung extremity
(3) shortness of breath
(4) headache
(5) nausea with abdominal cramps
(6) slurred speech
(7) shallow breathing which may progress to respiratory paralysis
(8) decreased level of consciousness which may progress to coma
(9) decreased reflexes
(10) paralysis may develop in the stung extremity
(11) generalized weakness
Deaths are uncommon and often can be prevented if medical attention is given.
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