Recovered after rare detoxification infusion
On March 12, Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital said - 3 pediatric patients who are siblings in a family in Phuoc Nang mountainous commune (Da Nang) suffering from severe botulinum poisoning have had positive changes after being infused with Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT) antidote.
Doctor Vo Huu Hoi - Deputy Director of Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital said that the two 7-year-old and 11-year-old children showed clear progress in perception and movement. Unlike the previous critical condition, the children were awake, recognized the people around and could squeeze their hands as requested by the doctor.
At the same time, Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital also recorded "very good" neurological progression in the 15-year-old older brother being treated here.
Detoxification drug BAT is coordinated through the World Health Organization (WHO). On the evening of March 11, as soon as the flight carrying the drug landed at Da Nang International Airport, medical forces immediately distributed the drug and urgently transported it to two hospitals.
Doctors began intravenous infusions for two pediatric patients at Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital at 8:45 PM. The 11-year-old was given half a vial of medicine, and the 7-year-old used about one-third of the vial. The infusion procedure was completed at about 2 am on March 12.
Another part of the medicine was transferred immediately that night to Quang Nam Northern mountainous Regional General Hospital for detoxification injections for a 15-year-old child.
Doctor Tran Long Quan - Head of the Emergency Pediatrics, Intensive Care and Poison Control Department of Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital - said that BAT drugs have the effect of blocking botulinum toxins from continuing to attack the nervous system.
However, the recovery process still takes a long time. Doctors expect the withdrawal from the ventilator to last from a few weeks to a few months for the body to restore nerve pathways. During this time, the hospital combines early rehabilitation to help pediatric patients regain mobility and limit sequelae.
The three patients are siblings in a family in Phuoc Nang commune. On March 8, after eating pickled fish, all three showed typical symptoms of botulinum poisoning such as ptosis, quadriceps muscle weakness and rapidly progressing respiratory failure.
Faced with the critical situation, the health sector urgently contacted WHO to find a source of rare antidote to save the children.
According to doctors, botulinum is an extremely potent neurotoxin, which can cause muscle paralysis leading to respiratory failure and death if not treated promptly. BAT drugs used for detoxification are very rare, costing about 8,000 USD per bottle.
Sour pickled fish – a traditional dish of the Gie Trieng people – is prepared by incubating fish in a closed, anaerobic environment. If the processing process is not safe, Clostridium botulinum bacteria can develop and produce dangerous toxins.
The health sector recommends that people be cautious when using fermented and sealed foods according to traditional customs if processing and storage conditions do not ensure hygiene.
