A 51-year-old woman from Bình Sơn District, Quảng Ngãi, Mrs. P.T.M., was hospitalized in critical condition after consuming homemade pufferfish. She was immediately admitted and given intensive care, successfully overcoming the crisis.
Critical pufferfish poisoning patient being treated – 1
Symptoms, Emergency Treatment, and Recovery
Following consumption, Mrs. M. quickly exhibited symptoms of fatigue, confusion, and severe vomiting. Relatives rushed her to the hospital. Doctors immediately performed gastric lavage, administered activated charcoal, and transferred her to the Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring.
However, her condition deteriorated after approximately 5 hours, manifesting as respiratory muscle weakness, deep coma, urinary dysfunction, and respiratory acidosis. To save her life, doctors inserted an endotracheal tube, provided mechanical ventilation, and performed extracorporeal blood purification to eliminate accumulated toxins. Thankfully, after 6 hours of blood filtration, Mrs. M. began regaining consciousness and showed significant mental improvement.
Recovery and Discharge
After a period of intensive monitoring and treatment, Mrs. M.’s health stabilized and her strength fully recovered. The breathing tube was removed, and she was discharged on March 11th. However, due to fever and potential pneumonia from inhaling toxins during vomiting, she needed to continue monitoring and treatment at home to ensure a complete recovery.
Expert Advice on Pufferfish Poisoning
Dr. Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Diễm, from the Intensive Care and Poison Control Unit, explains that pufferfish contain the toxin Tetrodotoxin, concentrated primarily in the skin, liver, intestines, and gonads. Improper preparation can lead to serious poisoning. Recently, the hospital has treated several similar cases.
Dr. Diễm urges caution when preparing and consuming pufferfish. If you suspect pufferfish poisoning, with symptoms like nausea, tingling in the lips/hands/feet, confusion, or loss of consciousness, immediately seek medical attention at the nearest hospital. Early intervention is crucial to prevent severe consequences, even death.
Related Keywords: Food poisoning, Pufferfish, Tetrodotoxin, Emergency, Intensive Care, Poison Control, Quảng Ngãi
