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Warning-sign checks

Poisoning - fish and shellfish: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency care now if you develop:

    • Trouble breathing, shallow breathing, or rapidly increasing weakness
    • Fainting, collapse, blue or grey lips, or severe chest symptoms
    • Confusion, a seizure, inability to walk, or difficulty speaking
    • Swelling of the tongue or throat after eating seafood
    • Severe drowsiness or inability to stay awake

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact urgent medical services or a poison centre promptly for tingling around the mouth, spreading numbness, marked weakness, unusual hot-cold sensation, or vomiting and diarrhea after eating reef fish or shellfish.

    Early advice is important because some nerve symptoms can worsen.

    Get same-day medical advice for bloody diarrhea, persistent fever, severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, very little urine, or signs of dehydration.

    People who are pregnant, older, very young, immunocompromised, or living with chronic liver disease should seek advice earlier.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    For mild symptoms that are improving, routine follow-up is reasonable if they last longer than expected or return after initially settling.

    Report suspected outbreaks to the relevant local public health or food safety service, particularly when several people became ill after sharing seafood.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Poisoning - fish and shellfish. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.