title: Puffer fish poisoning: a potentially life-threatening condition.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW. gsbite@bigpond.com
authors.forename: Geoffrey K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Isbister
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Catriona J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.forename: Cindy S-Y
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ujma
authors.forename: Corrine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Balit
authors.forename: Brendon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Milder
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kiernan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D023721:Tetraodontiformes; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D013779:Tetrodotoxin