The three patients were transferred to PMGH by SJA team. Two males; a 25 year old & 13 year and a 22 year old female.
They had consumed internal organs (Liver/ Intestines, etc…) of a large pufferfish.
All three patients had paralysis and difficulty breathing on arrival and assessment at the PMGH Emergency Department.
They were immediately artificially Ventilated and eventually transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for ongoing mechanical ventilation and critical care.
Pufferfish contains a Toxin called Tetrodotoxin. It is named after the Tetraodontidae pufferfish family.
This poison blocks the ability of muscles to contract and therefore it will affect all muscles by causing paralysis. Paralysis of the breathing muscles means patients will become hypoxic (low on oxygen in the blood).
The toxin cannot be broken down by cooking. It is therefore, not recommended for anyone to eat this fish.
There is no antidote for the this rare type of poisoning. Therefore doctors are not able to administer any type of Antivenom (like they would for Snakebite patients).
The recovery of these patients is dependent on supportive Intensive Care.
Until such time that the toxicity wears off and the patients are able to sustain their own breaths; will they possibly be weaned off mechanical ventilation.