ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) advised Ilonggos to refrain from eating shellfish from the province of Capiz.
This was following the suspected cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), more locally known as “red tide,” recorded in Roxas City and Pilar and Pontevedra towns.
“Refrain anay kita sa pagkaon sang green shells and shellfish nga halin sa Capiz mintras ara pa ang shellfish poisoning,” said IPHO head Dr. Ma. Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon in an interview with Panay News yesterday morning.
PSP is a life-threatening syndrome associated with eating contaminated shellfish, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
Iloilo province, meanwhile, also reported five suspected cases of PSP: four cases from Balasan and one case from Carles.
The DOH-6 said it is still verifying whether these cases were epidemiologically linked with the cases in Capiz.
Quiñon, meanwhile, confirmed that as per information from IPHO’s Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, the five had consumed green shells from Capiz prior to being admitted to the Jesus M. Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan. They experienced signs and symptoms of PSP such as numbness in various areas of the body, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
“Nagkaon sila sang green shells nga ginbakal nila sa Capiz and didto nag-suffer ang iban pagpalanakit sang tiyan, may ara man nag-numb ang body, taas ang blood pressure, iban nagsuka. So ara gid ang senyales sang food poisoning after they ate green shells from Capiz,” the IPHO chief added.
Symptoms
PSP symptoms are purely neurological and the onset is rapid that it can be felt within 12 hours:
• sense of numbness around the mouth or the face
• dizziness
• pricking sensation and/or paralysis of hands and feet
• body weakness
• rapid pulse beat
• difficulty in talking, swallowing, breathing
• headache
• abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea
Treatment
• Supportive treatment, especially ventilatory support/artificial respiration, is given in severe cases.
• Fluid therapy may be administered.
• Detoxification (ex. coconut water & brown sugar) may be done.
Prevention
When there is a red tide warning:
• Do not eat shellfish.
• Avoid eating alamang and small fishes.
• Wash thoroughly
• Remove gills and intestines of fish, squids and crabs.
• Remove heads of shrimps.
The DOH-6 advised the public especially those who recently consumed shellfish and are experiencing symptoms alike must immediately consult the nearest health facility for proper treatment and referral.
Further, the DOH-6 reiterated that medical treatment for this case should not be delayed. To manage the cases effectively, early diagnosis is essential.
For patient referrals and medical concerns within Western Visayas, the public may reach out to the following contacts, 0998-381-9641 for Smart users, and 0995-643-4895 for Globe users, DOH-6 added./PN
