Octopus bite

Mechanism

• Venom contains tetrodotoxin
• Inhibits voltage-gated Na⁺ channels causing paralysis

Symptoms

• Erythema
• Paresthesias
• Flaccid paralysis
• Respiratory Failure

Differential Diagnosis

Blue ringed octopus

Marine toxins, envenomations, and bites

• Toxins
  • Ciguatera
  • Scombroid
  • Tetrodotoxin (e.g. pufferfish)
  • Shellfish poisoning
    • Amnesic shellfish poisoning
    • Diarrheal shellfish poisoning
    • Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning
    • Paralytic shellfish poisoning
• Stingers
  • Stingray injury
• Venomous fish
  • Cone shell
  • Lionfish
  • Sea urchins
  • Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
  • Stonefish
  • Other: Catfish, zebrafish, scorpion fish
• Nematocysts
  • Coral reef
  • Fire coral
  • Jellyfish (Cnidaria)
    • Box jellyfish
      • Irukandji syndrome
    • Sea wasp
  • Portuguese man-of-war
  • Sea anemones
  • Seabather's eruption
• Phylum porifera (sponges)
• Bites
  • Alligator and crocodile attacks
  • Octopus bite
  • Shark bite
• Infections
  • Vibrio species in saltwater
  • Aeromonas species in freshwater

Treatment

• Supportive
• No antivenom

See Also

• Marine toxins and envenomations