Premium
Puffer fish poisoning: a potentially life‐threatening condition
Author(s) -
Isbister Geoffrey K,
Son Julie,
Ujma Josef,
Smith Brendon,
Milder D G,
Wang Frank,
Maclean Catriona J,
Lin Cindy SY,
Kiernan Matthew C,
Balit Corrine R
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04999.x
Subject(s) - officer , medicine , fish <actinopterygii> , management , political science , law , biology , fishery , economics
Puffer fish poisoning has been documented rarely in Australia. It results from ingesting tetrodoxtoxin found in the liver, ovaries, intestines and skin of the fish. Over a recent 16-month period, 11 cases of puffer fish poisoning were reported to the NSW Poisons Information Centre. Symptoms of poisoning may include paralysis, respiratory failure, numbness, paraesthesia, nausea and ataxia. Health professionals should be aware of the condition so as to institute early and appropriate management.