On 9/7, a representative from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases reported that a 63-year-old man was admitted with fatigue, difficulty breathing, and a purple rash across his head, face, ears, and limbs. According to his family, he had consumed tiet canh, pork intestines, and alcohol at a local restaurant three days prior. He began experiencing discomfort the following afternoon and was taken to a nearby clinic. His condition worsened, prompting his transfer to the hospital.

Doctors intubated him, put him on a ventilator, and initiated blood filtration. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he went into cardiac arrest during the intervention. A team of four doctors performed CPR, administered intensive care, and used vasopressors to stabilize his blood pressure.

Doctor Pham Thanh Bang from the Emergency Department stated that the patient is currently stable but remains in the early stages of treatment, with a high risk of further complications. Necrotic lesions – dark purple, swollen, and painful areas of skin caused by the streptococcus suis bacteria directly attacking blood vessels and causing tissue necrosis – have appeared, increasing the risk of widespread necrosis and sepsis. Doctors are awaiting blood culture results to confirm the cause of the illness.

Doctors performing CPR on the patient. Photo: Hospital provided

Streptococcus suis is a bacterium that can cause severe infections, typically onset within 24-72 hours of entering the body. Just one day after initial symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea appear, the disease can quickly progress to septic shock, necrosis, and multiple organ failure.

As a precaution, people should only consume meat from reputable, inspected sources. They should absolutely avoid tiet canh and other undercooked pork products. If any unusual symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, or diarrhea occur after consuming pork, immediate medical attention is crucial.

Thuy Quynh