Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

Description: Life-threatening syndrome contracted from seafood that are contaminated with neurotoxins such as saxitoxins.

Symptoms: Most symptoms are neurological and appear quickly within ten minutes to around three hours of consumption. 

Includes:

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Burning of the perioral region

• Ataxia

• Giddiness

• Drowsiness

• Fever

• Rash

• Staggering

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Additional: In some cases, severe respiratory arrest can occur within 24 hours of consumption. Most survivors recover fully however there is not an explicit antidote. Most patients are given supportive therapy as a method of recovery.

Conclusion: While the disease is very rarely contracted now (with only 2000 cases per year globally), as ocean acidification worsens, the frequency of the disease also increases in shellfish increasing probability to pass it on.