Medical Emergencies Caused by Aquatic Animals (eBook)

This is the second edition of the book originally published under the title Medical Emergencies Caused by Aquatic Animals: A Zoological and Clinical Guide. Including updated chapters, new content and additional references, it discusses follow-up with patients, describes diseases that are not emergencies and explains procedures that can take place at health stations and outpatient centers, focusing on clinical and biological aspects relevant to researchers and practitioners alike.

The chapter on Invertebrate Aquatic Animals presents facts and advances that were left out of the first edition. In addition, it includes improved images. The subtopic on Cnidaria presents recent data on outbreaks and new species identification in unprecedented areas, with a timely discussion on first aid treatment.

The chapter on Injuries by Vertebrate Aquatic Animals has been improved, based on continued work with bathers and fishermen. Featuring numerous images and representative clinical cases, it explores the most significant injuries caused by fish around the globe.

The chapter on Ingestion of Aquatic Venomous Animals: Toxinology, Clinical Aspects, and Treatment discusses outbreaks of intoxication diseases from eating fish and seafood, drawing on reliable records of serial cases of Haff's syndrome, scombroidism and ciguatera. Further, it examines the indiscriminate consumption of aquatic animals, which the author argues present the same (or even greater) risks of poisoning and infections as terrestrial animals.

Lastly, since there is a general lack of awareness of the risk of infections in aquatic environments, the chapter on Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Aquatic Environments describes the symptoms and treatments and highlights preventive measures.

Vidal Haddad Junior holds a degree in Medicine from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1983), a master's degree (1991) and PhD (1999) in Medicine (Dermatology) from the Federal University of São Paulo. He is an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) and head of the Department of Dermatology and Radiotherapy. He previously worked as a Professor of Zoology at the Biosciences Institute of UNESP - Botucatu, and was a collaborating doctor at the Vital Brazil Hospital, Butantan Institute and taught in the Department of Public Health's graduate program at the School of Medicine of Botucatu (UNESP). Currently, he is a Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of Botucatu (UNESP). He is the vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Toxinology and a member of the Deliberative Council, the National Editorial and the Scientific Committee of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology. He is former president and current secretary of the Scientific Support Fund of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (FUNADERM). He serves as a consultant to the Ministry of Health - National Health Foundation (accidents involving poisonous aquatic animals) and is a CNPq Research Productivity Scholar - Level 2 - CA MD - Medicine.