Shellfish Poisoning, Paralysis
Medical Author:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
N Stuart Harris, MD, MFA
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James Kimo Takayesu, MD
Shellfish Poisoning Paralysis OverviewShellfish poisoning can occur after eating clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, cockles, starfish, and crustaceans that consume dinoflagellates during a red tide. During a red tide, sea waters turn a reddish color because large numbers of red organisms (dinoflagellates) are present. Dinoflagellates kill fish and other organisms by releasing toxins (poisonous substances). Consequently, shellfish take in the concentrated saxitoxin, a poison that causes paralysis. Red tides are most common in the cold waters of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Japan. A red tide rarely occurs in warmer climates. People are poisoned when they unknowingly eat shellfish contaminated during a red tide with saxitoxins. Shellfish that is contaminated during a red tide does not have an abnormal taste, smell, or color, and the toxin is not destroyed by heating or cooking. Paralysis due to shellfish poisoning follows a similar progression to that of pufferfish poisoning. |
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Shellfish Poisoning, Paralysis
Coma Overview
A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness in which individuals do not consciously respond to stimuli in their environment. Coma can result from injury such as head trauma, or an underlying illness such as an infection or tumor, or toxins that enter the body.
Patients in a coma are unable to think consciously and lack awareness of their surroundings, but they do retain basic life support functions, such as breathing and circulation. A person in a coma may look healthy and appear as if they are sleeping, but they are unable to respond to people and things around them. A patient in a coma may exhibit some movement such as eye opening or grimacing in response to the environment; however, the patient does not have control or awareness of these movements.
A long-term coma is often referred to as a persistent vegetative state. This can last for years, depending on the medical circumstances and the cause.
In general, ...
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Toxicity, Shellfish »
Infectious agents cause most shellfish-associated illness.
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