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Ciguatera Poisoning
Medical Questions » Ciguatera Poisoning
| Name: Ciguatera Poisoning |
| Also known as: |
| Form of seafood poisoning. |
Causes of Ciguatera Poisoning
Eating reef fish that contain the ciguatera toxin. The fish itself is not affected, and there are no tests for differentiating safe from toxic fish. Generally the larger the fish, the more likely it is to be toxic. The poison is produced at certain seasons by a microscopic animal (Dinoflagellida) that proliferates on tropical reefs. This is eaten by very small fish, who are then eaten by bigger fish, who are then eaten by still bigger fish. There may be a dozen steps along this chain, with the poison being steadily concentrated in the fish tissue at every step. Ciguatera is present in a low concentration in most reef fish, but only when it exceeds a certain concentration does it cause problems in humans. There are far higher concentrations in the gut, liver, head and roe of reef fish, which should never be eaten or used to make fish soup, and it cannot be destroyed by cooking. |
Symptoms of Ciguatera Poisoning
Vary dramatically from one patient to another, depending on the amount of toxin eaten, the size of the victim, and the individual reaction. May include unusual skin sensations and tingling, diarrhea, nausea, abnormal sensation, headaches and irregular heartbeats. Unusual tingling sensations may persist for years. |
Tests for Ciguatera Poisoning
No diagnostic tests. |
Treatment for Ciguatera Poisoning
No treatment or antidote, but medication may be used to control symptoms.
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Complications of Ciguatera Poisoning of its treatment
Subsequent serious attacks may be triggered by eating tiny amounts of ciguatera that may be present in fish that others can eat without adverse effects. |
Likely Outcome of Ciguatera Poisoning
Patients with a mild reaction recover in a few days, but severe attacks may cause symptoms for a couple of months. Death is rare, but possible, usually occurs within 36 hours of the onset of the attack, and is caused by the effects of the toxin on the heart and blood vessels. Toxin is naturally eliminated from the body. |
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