How to Treat Puffer Fish Poisoning
- 1). Learn the symptoms of puffer fish poison. Symptoms generally appear between 20 minutes to 3 hours after eating. Although each person may experience different symptoms, the following are the most common symptoms: numbness of face and extremities, sensations of lightness, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, slurred speech, difficulty walking, and extensive muscle weakness.
- 2). Go to the hospital or emergency room immediately if you notice the symptoms after ingesting puffer fish. The symptoms associated with puffer fish can be associated with other forms of illness or disease; however, it is most likely to assume it is from puffer fish if you recognize the symptoms after eating puffer fish.
- 3). Induce vomiting if you are conscious and you have ingested the fish within 3 hours. Since absorption of the toxin is unwanted, vomiting the toxin or tetradotoxin is the best remedy.
- 4). Ingest activated charcoal to bind the toxin. This will prevent the toxin from being further absorbed by your body and will lessen the severity of the situation.
- 5). Take standard life-support measures to keep the victim alive until the effect of the poison has worn off. Hypo-tension may also be an issue of concern; therefore, alpha adrenergic agonists are recommended in addition to intravenous fluids.
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