An elderly man in Yueqing, Wenzhou, China, was accidentally pricked on the left hand by a mud crab's leg while handling it at home and became infected with Vibrio vulnificus. Despite nine days of rescue efforts, he unfortunately passed away.
According to Wenzhou News Network, after the mud crab pricked a small wound on the man's left hand, he thought it was just a minor injury and simply covered it with a bandage. Although his hand was somewhat swollen, he did not consider seeking medical attention. However, such a seemingly trivial wound concealed a deadly risk.
The next morning, 23 hours after being pricked by the mud crab, the elderly man's left arm showed obvious redness, swelling, heat, and pain, accompanied by dizziness and fatigue.
After his family rushed him to Yueqing People's Hospital, emergency blood tests showed a spike in creatinine (indicating kidney impairment), and doctors highly suspected a Vibrio vulnificus infection, so he was urgently transferred to the ICU.
Unexpectedly, the condition rapidly deteriorated. Within one hour of admission, the man's left upper limb developed "necrotizing fasciitis" (rapid rotting of subcutaneous tissue and fascia) and continued worsening, along with signs of kidney failure. Doctors decisively performed an amputation of his left upper limb, followed by blood dialysis.
Regrettably, despite 9 days of treatment, the elderly man still passed away.
Mud crab, commonly known locally in Wenzhou as "Qiumou," inhabits warm, low-salinity coastal shallow waters, has an oval blue-green carapace, and features short, wide cephalothorax. Its tender and rich meat makes it a popular delicacy among locals.
Vibrio vulnificus is widespread in near-shore seabeds, seabed mud, and marine products, with broad distribution. Protein-rich seafood such as oysters, blood clams, mussels, and prawns have higher contamination rates and levels; marine fish have lower contamination levels, and it is rarely seen in freshwater fish and shrimp. After infection with Vibrio vulnificus, the mortality rate within 48 hours can exceed 50%; if effective treatment is not received within 72 hours, the mortality rate approaches 100%.
There are two most common clinical manifestations of Vibrio vulnificus infection: wound infection and septicemia. Once infected, local symptoms include redness, swelling, heat, and pain (a small wound suddenly becomes a "crater," with surrounding skin hot and purplish), and rapid ulceration (pus, blackening, and blistering may appear within 24 hours); systemic symptoms include high fever with chills (body temperature shooting up over 39℃, shivering from cold), sharp drop in blood pressure (dizziness, cold sweat—a sign of impending shock), and vomiting and diarrhea (your gut feels like it has been stabbed by a 'seafood assassin').
The condition progresses rapidly, and if not treated promptly, it can lead to muscle necrosis, septicemia, and even risk of amputation and multi-organ failure. Therefore, Vibrio vulnificus is known as the "hidden killer of the ocean."
Doctors remind everyone that when handling seafood, please wear protective gloves, and if injured, thoroughly disinfect the wound. If injured and any suspicious symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. Vibrio vulnificus is salt-loving, so do not use saline or sprinkle salt on wounds, as this can worsen the infection. Vibrio vulnificus infection progresses very rapidly and can become life-threatening within hours. Early recognition, early medical attention, and early treatment are key to saving limbs and lives. Being cautious while handling seafood is a hundred times more important than treatment afterwards!
According to Wenzhou News Network, after the mud crab pricked a small wound on the man's left hand, he thought it was just a minor injury and simply covered it with a bandage. Although his hand was somewhat swollen, he did not consider seeking medical attention. However, such a seemingly trivial wound concealed a deadly risk.
The next morning, 23 hours after being pricked by the mud crab, the elderly man's left arm showed obvious redness, swelling, heat, and pain, accompanied by dizziness and fatigue.
After his family rushed him to Yueqing People's Hospital, emergency blood tests showed a spike in creatinine (indicating kidney impairment), and doctors highly suspected a Vibrio vulnificus infection, so he was urgently transferred to the ICU.
Unexpectedly, the condition rapidly deteriorated. Within one hour of admission, the man's left upper limb developed "necrotizing fasciitis" (rapid rotting of subcutaneous tissue and fascia) and continued worsening, along with signs of kidney failure. Doctors decisively performed an amputation of his left upper limb, followed by blood dialysis.
Regrettably, despite 9 days of treatment, the elderly man still passed away.
Mud crab, commonly known locally in Wenzhou as "Qiumou," inhabits warm, low-salinity coastal shallow waters, has an oval blue-green carapace, and features short, wide cephalothorax. Its tender and rich meat makes it a popular delicacy among locals.
Vibrio vulnificus is widespread in near-shore seabeds, seabed mud, and marine products, with broad distribution. Protein-rich seafood such as oysters, blood clams, mussels, and prawns have higher contamination rates and levels; marine fish have lower contamination levels, and it is rarely seen in freshwater fish and shrimp. After infection with Vibrio vulnificus, the mortality rate within 48 hours can exceed 50%; if effective treatment is not received within 72 hours, the mortality rate approaches 100%.
There are two most common clinical manifestations of Vibrio vulnificus infection: wound infection and septicemia. Once infected, local symptoms include redness, swelling, heat, and pain (a small wound suddenly becomes a "crater," with surrounding skin hot and purplish), and rapid ulceration (pus, blackening, and blistering may appear within 24 hours); systemic symptoms include high fever with chills (body temperature shooting up over 39℃, shivering from cold), sharp drop in blood pressure (dizziness, cold sweat—a sign of impending shock), and vomiting and diarrhea (your gut feels like it has been stabbed by a 'seafood assassin').
The condition progresses rapidly, and if not treated promptly, it can lead to muscle necrosis, septicemia, and even risk of amputation and multi-organ failure. Therefore, Vibrio vulnificus is known as the "hidden killer of the ocean."
Doctors remind everyone that when handling seafood, please wear protective gloves, and if injured, thoroughly disinfect the wound. If injured and any suspicious symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. Vibrio vulnificus is salt-loving, so do not use saline or sprinkle salt on wounds, as this can worsen the infection. Vibrio vulnificus infection progresses very rapidly and can become life-threatening within hours. Early recognition, early medical attention, and early treatment are key to saving limbs and lives. Being cautious while handling seafood is a hundred times more important than treatment afterwards!