"If Severe, Death Can Occur Within 48 Hours"... Dipping Your Feet in Seawater to Cool Off Could Be Dangerous

Caution Needed for Vibrio Sepsis Infection During the Rainy Season
Can Develop from Eating Undercooked Seafood or Through Skin Infection
Extra Care Required for Liver Disease and Immunocompromised Individuals

The rainy season, characterized by rising temperatures and humidity, is a period when various bacterial and viral diseases become prevalent. During this time, cases of Vibrio sepsis increase sharply, and in severe cases, the disease can be life-threatening, requiring special caution.

According to Korea University Anam Hospital on June 26, Vibrio sepsis is a bacterial infectious disease caused by infection with Vibrio vulnificus. It is classified as a Grade 3 legally designated infectious disease that causes skin soft tissue infections and acute sepsis. The disease mainly occurs when people consume raw or undercooked seafood, or when bacteria present in seawater enter the body through wounds on the skin.

Vibrio sepsis is a bacterial infectious disease classified as a Grade 3 legally designated infectious disease that causes skin soft tissue infections and acute sepsis. It mainly infects humans when consuming raw or undercooked seafood or when bacteria present in seawater enter the body through skin wounds. Photo by Getty Images

Vibrio vulnificus primarily inhabits coastal seawater. It begins to be detected from May to June, when seawater temperatures rise above 18 degrees Celsius, and it causes concentrated human infections between August and October, when water temperatures are highest. Vibrio sepsis is divided into wound infection type and primary sepsis, depending on the route of infection. The wound infection type occurs when seawater or seafood comes into contact with a scratch or wound, allowing the bacteria to invade the body. The affected area can rapidly swell and turn red, and blisters or necrosis may develop. If infection is suspected, prompt administration of antibiotics and aggressive wound care are required.

Primary sepsis occurs mainly in high-risk groups with compromised immune systems, such as patients with liver disease, alcoholics, and immunodeficient individuals, when they consume contaminated seafood. General symptoms such as high fever, chills, generalized weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea appear, and within 30 hours of onset, skin changes such as swelling, ecchymosis, blisters, and itching may develop on the hands and feet. If symptoms progress rapidly, death may occur within 48 hours.

Vibrio sepsis is treated with antibiotics such as cephalosporins and tetracyclines. If necrotic tissue develops on the skin, surgical treatments such as incision or amputation may also be necessary. Because the infection spreads quickly and can affect the whole body, a rapid response after symptoms appear is crucial for survival.

To prevent Vibrio sepsis, shellfish should be stored at low temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, and before cooking, they must be thoroughly washed with running tap water instead of seawater. Photo by Getty Images

Prevention is the most important factor. Special care must be taken when handling and consuming seafood. Shellfish should be stored at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, and before cooking, they must be thoroughly washed with running tap water instead of seawater. Seafood should be fully cooked at temperatures above 85 degrees Celsius, and shellfish should be boiled for at least five additional minutes even after the shells have opened. If you have a wound on your skin, you should avoid direct contact with seawater or mudflats, and when handling seafood, you should wear rubber gloves to prevent bacterial invasion.

Kim Jungyeon, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Anam Hospital, said, "If symptoms of Vibrio sepsis become severe, they can quickly lead to shock, so it is important to visit a hospital as soon as initial symptoms appear." She added, "If you have consumed undercooked seafood or shellfish within the past week and are experiencing symptoms such as chills or fever, you should seek medical attention from a specialist."

She also emphasized, "For high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease, alcoholics, people with chronic diseases like diabetes, those taking corticosteroids or anticancer drugs, and immunodeficient individuals, the fatality rate of Vibrio sepsis can be as high as 50 percent. Therefore, it is essential to follow preventive guidelines."