The Blue-ringed octopus or blue-ringed octopus may not be a familiar name to many people, but we often hear the name of this animal in the news from time to time to warn those who love to eat squid to be careful when buying it, because the poison of this octopus is very harmful to the body. This article would like to invite you to get to know the Blue-ringed octopus to increase safety for consumers.
Blue-ringed octopuses are generally recognized by their external appearance, especially their yellow. Or sand-colored body with a blue ring pattern scattered around it. These rings will glow if threatened. Although the blue-ringed octopus is not a ferocious animal, its venom is so strong that it can cause respiratory failure and death. Therefore, if you accidentally eat a blue-ringed octopus or are bitten. You should see a doctor immediately.
The dangers of blue-ringed octopuses
The danger of the blue-ringed octopus comes from the toxin contained in its saliva. Tetrodotoxin (TTX), which is the same toxin found in puffer fish and can withstand temperatures as high as 200 degrees Celsius. For this reason, cooking at normal temperatures cannot destroy this toxin.
Symptoms after poisoning usually occur quickly within a few minutes and vary depending on the amount of poison ingested, ยูฟ่าเบท http://ufabet999.app the age and health condition of the individual. For example:
- Foaming at the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest tightness
- I feel like something sharp is stabbing me.
- Tea cramps
- Sweating
- Dizziness, feeling like I’m going to faint
- Headache
- squeamish
- Loss of vision
In addition, those who are poisoned by a blue-ringed octopus may experience rapid deterioration. And risk paralysis, muscle weakness, organ incoordination, suffocation, failure of the diaphragm and chest muscles, lack of oxygen to the body, causing the skin to turn blue or purple, and eventually death.
What to do if you are bitten or eaten by a blue-ringed octopus?
Since the venom of the blue-ringed octopus is harmful to the respiratory system, if bitten or accidentally eaten, you should immediately take it to see a doctor for urgent life-saving measures, such as giving oxygen, giving intravenous fluids, or inserting a breathing tube, and closely monitoring the symptoms.
Before reaching a doctor, relatives or people around the patient can provide first aid or take care of the bitten area according to the following recommendations.
- Inhale air into the lungs by blowing into the mouth and preventing prolonged asphyxia.
- Clean the bite wound with clean water, then wrap the wound with an elastic bandage and a splint to prevent the affected area from moving and slow down the spread of venom to other parts of the body.
- You should not cut the bite wound because it will cause the venom to spread further.
However, being bitten by a blue-ringed octopus is very rare and only occurs when the octopus feels threatened, such as being caught or attacked. There have also been no reports of blue-ringed octopuses being found on beaches. Where people swim, but they have been found on the sea floor. And outside the coral reefs. Divers should therefore be careful and not to disturb the aquatic life. And habitats in these areas to prevent contact or being bitten by potentially venomous aquatic animals.
Consumers should always be careful and observe any abnormalities in squid from restaurants or markets. If any abnormalities are found, they should be discarded and not eaten to prevent health problems that may occur later. In case of concerns or doubts that squid or any food may be toxic or unsafe for the body, you can call the FDA hotline at 1556 or contact the public health office of each province immediately.