Emergency Department, State Hospital, , Antalya, Turkey.
Emerg Med J. 2013 Nov;30(11):954-5. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2011-200407. Epub 2013 Jan 10.
The increasing Indo-Pacific migration has affected the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, and the prevalence of the puffer fish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), a well-known poisonous migrant, is increasing. The fish, which contains tetrodotoxin, is lethally poisonous when consumed. As its population increases it becomes more available in the markets of southern Turkey, but local people seem to be unaware of the danger. Probably because of the depressed stocks of the surrounding waters and demand on affordable seafood, local anglers are catching the fish. The situation constitutes an alert for the local emergency medicine organisation and is a public health issue.
Local fishermen, fish sellers/dealers/brokers, buyers and emergency department physicians were interviewed about the fishery and consumption facts of the puffer fish in the region, the number of cases reported in the regional state run hospitals and the 112 Emergency Medical Response Service, and the knowledge and practice of the doctors in the emergency departments.
General health organisations are unprepared for the serious health hazards caused by this fish, including fatalities. Health workers should have sufficient knowledge regarding the clinical manifestations, complications and management of puffer fish poisoning. Official authorities should make the public aware of the potential risk of consuming puffer fish.
印度洋-太平洋鱼类的迁徙增加了地中海的生物多样性，而众所周知的有毒洄游鱼类——暗纹东方鲀（Lagocephalus sceleratus）的流行率也在上升。这种鱼含有河豚毒素，食用后会致命。随着其数量的增加，它在土耳其南部的市场上越来越常见，但当地人似乎没有意识到这种危险。可能是由于周围水域的鱼类资源减少和对经济实惠海鲜的需求，当地的渔民正在捕捞这种鱼。这种情况对当地的急救医学组织发出了警报，也是一个公共卫生问题。
对当地渔民、鱼贩/经销商/经纪人、购买者和急诊医生进行了采访，了解该地区暗纹东方鲀的渔业和消费情况、地区公立医院和 112 紧急医疗响应服务报告的病例数量，以及急诊部门医生的知识和实践情况。
一般的健康组织对这种鱼（包括致命病例）造成的严重健康危害没有做好准备。卫生工作者应该对河豚鱼中毒的临床表现、并发症和管理有足够的了解。官方当局应该让公众意识到食用暗纹东方鲀的潜在风险。
