UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: If you like sushi - Fugu

Keywords: tetrodotoxin, sushi (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/15/2009 by Fermin Barrueto, MD (Updated: 3/29/2024)
Click here to contact Fermin Barrueto, MD

Tetrodotoxin - Sodium Channel blocker - Extremely toxic causes paresthesias, dysrhythmias and paralysis - Found in the sushi called Fugu (From the Pufferfish) - Eating the sushi is considered a delicacy and goal is to get just enough of the toxin to get perioral paresthesias after eating. - Also found in the blue-ringed octopus, angelfish and parrot fish. Enjoy your seafood and take a look at the attached pic of actual fugu.


Attachments

0901152329_fugu_0111.jpg (145 Kb)