On March 9, according to a report from Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital (under Da Nang City Department of Health), this unit has just received and treated a cluster of patients including 3 patients from the same family located in hamlet 8, Phuoc Nang commune, Da Nang city.
Medical history information shows that on the morning of March 7, the patients ate fermented fish with their families (a total of 6 people ate). At about 6 pm on the same day, the patients developed symptoms of abdominal pain and frequent vomiting. On the morning of March 8, the patients were admitted to Phuoc Son Regional Medical Center and immediately transferred to Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital.
In 3 cases, patient Ho Ngoc Thai (15 years old, student) was admitted to the hospital in a coma, unresponsive (GCS 6 points), dilated pupils on both sides, shortness of breath, hiccups, and urinary incontinence.
The patient was intubated and transferred to the Intensive Care - Anti-Poison Department. Here, it was recorded that the patient had ptosis, weak limbs, muscle strength 3/5, low blood pressure (70/40 mmHg). After consultation with experts at Cho Ray Hospital, doctors performed plasma replacement with 5% Albumin replacement fluid for the patient from 4:20 PM to 8:20 PM on March 8. By the morning of March 9, the patient was still in a coma and had to be ventilated.
The remaining two cases are Ho Quang Nhat (7 years old, student) and Ho Quoc Binh (11 years old, student). Both were hospitalized with drowsiness, shortness of breath, drooling eyelashes, quadriceps muscle weakness and respiratory failure level 2.
Patient Ho Quang Nhat was supported with CPAP breathing, while patient Ho Quoc Binh's condition worsened, requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
On the morning of March 9, after first aid and stabilizing the condition, Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital guided treatment and transferred both patient Nhat and Binh to Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for further intensive treatment.
Currently, all 3 cases have been diagnosed as food poisoning suspected of being caused by Botulinum toxin. Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital has sent a report to the Department of Health and the Da Nang City Sub-Department of Food Safety for monitoring and handling direction.
