The Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) has recently admitted three individuals suffering from severe toad poisoning, one of whom has died. This food, commonly regarded by locals as a health supplement, is actually a potent toxin that can frequently result in fatalities.
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The skin of toads is covered with numerous highly toxic spots (Photo: naturephotosociety/VNE). |
Dr. Nguyen Thi Du, Director of the Poison Control Center, stated that each year, the facility handles about ten cases of toad poisoning, with some incidents involving multiple family members. The most recent case (on February 5) involved a father and his two children from Hung Nguyen, Nghe An. The 39-year-old man caught several toads, including one female with eggs. He prepared the toad for a meal shared with his two young children. Symptoms of poisoning appeared immediately after the meal, manifesting as dizziness, abdominal pain, and more. Tragically, the youngest child, just four years old, died shortly after. The other two patients were taken to a local health station before being transferred to Hanoi and admitted to the Poison Control Center for emergency treatment. Fortunately, both father and son have since recovered.
Dr. Du emphasized that toad poisoning is a severe emergency; if not treated promptly, patients can die very quickly, sometimes within just an hour. The toxins in toads cause serious heart rhythm disturbances, which can lead to cardiac arrest, the primary cause of death. These toxins are found in the liver, eggs, intestines, and especially on the skin; during preparation, they can contaminate the meat and cause poisoning.
Symptoms of poisoning typically appear within 15 to 30 minutes and include dizziness, vertigo, a tingling sensation in the fingers and toes, severe prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure; this is followed by arrhythmias and cardiac spasms. Patients require immediate emergency care, including intravenous fluids, anti-arrhythmic medications, and potentially defibrillation, pacemaker use, and continuous heart monitoring.
According to Dr. Du, while most people are aware that toads are toxic, many still use them due to overconfidence in their own precautions. This mindset is a significant reason why cases of toad poisoning continue to occur.
“Toad meat is nutritious, rich in protein and calcium, making it very beneficial for malnourished children,” explained Mai Hoa, a postal service employee, regarding her decision to feed toad meat to her one-year-old child, despite the risks she had learned about from books and articles. Almost 1.6 million VND was spent after a large toad cage turned into a small jar of toad paste; yet, Hoa felt pleased and assured because “I supervised the entire process, ensuring it was very clean.”
Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, Deputy Director of the Institute of Nutrition, acknowledged that toad meat is indeed a highly nutritious food rich in protein and zinc, thus beneficial for health. However, she advised that only properly licensed processed products should be consumed (the Institute of Nutrition also offers such products), and individuals should avoid making their own or purchasing from street vendors due to the risk of toxic substances contaminating the meat.
Nguyen Thi Kim Hung, a nutrition expert in Ho Chi Minh City, suggested that the nutritional benefits of toad meat do not justify the risks involved. The protein content in toad meat is high (approximately 22%) but comparable to that of frog and chicken meat, and the zinc content is inferior to that found in seafood. Therefore, for those seeking nutritious options, it is safer and cheaper to choose alternatives such as fish, chicken, or other seafood.
Dr. Du believes that food regulatory agencies should prohibit the sale of toad meat and toad paste unless they are officially registered products. Otherwise, more families may spend large sums of money on these toxic substances.
Hai Ha
