When we are angry, some of us punch walls, clench our fists, or yell at the top of our lungs. This Chinese man has a different way of releasing his anger. He got so enraged by a crab that he put it in his mouth and ended up in the hospital as a result.
Based on a report from IFLScience, a man from the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang arrived at a hospital with unexplained excruciating back and abdominal pain. His wife recalled that he had eaten a live crab to exact revenge on his daughter, baffling people at the hospital.
Eating a Live Crab as Revenge
According to local television in China, a 39-year-old man named Lu was enraged when a small crab snapped its pincers, attacking his daughter. He then decided to swallow the crustacean alive as a form of revenge for what the creature had done to his daughter.
The initial examination revealed substantial changes in pathology in the man's chest, abdomen, liver, and digestive system, but doctors had no idea why. Doctors reportedly asked the man several times if he had ever eaten anything unusual or that could cause allergic reactions. All of the doctor's questions were answered with a 'no.'
It was not until the man's wife recounted how the man ate a live crab two months before his hospitalization that it became clear.
According to his doctors, the man stated, "I wanted to take revenge for my daughter," adding, "when we were by a stream, my daughter was pinched by a small crab, so I got angry and put it into my mouth for revenge."
Parasitic Infection
Based on the South China Morning Post, a subsequent blood test revealed that Lu had been infected by at least three parasites as a result of eating the crab. He has since recovered from his treatment, but he still requires regular checkups.
As per the Center for Food Society in Hong Kong, some food poisoning cases were reported in 2017 that were suspected to be caused by the consumption of raw crabs marinated with soy sauce and wine (a dish also known as 'drunken' crabs).
Raw crabs are said to contain a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and parasites. These microorganisms cannot be eliminated by marinating crab in ingredients such as wine, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and chili. The only way to prevent diseases caused by these pathogens is to cook the food thoroughly.
Food-borne diseases can be avoided by practicing good food and environmental hygiene, according to government health agencies. Of course, it is preferable to consume thoroughly cooked food rather than raw seafood. Finally, people should avoid using salt, vinegar, wine, or wasabi to kill bacteria because they are ineffective.
There have been no updates on the man's daughter's injuries from the attacking crab, and the man has not stated whether the 'revenge' was worth it after his hospitalization.
