CIGUATERA FISH POISONING

CIGUATERA FISH POISONING

• Food borne illness found in fish
• caused by toxins called Gambierdiscus toxicus
• Found in reef fish such as barracuda, grouper, red snapper, eel, etc
• Usually found in predator fish that consume fish that eat algae

CIGUATERA FISH POISONING

• Symptoms include:
• numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation around mouth, hands, or feet
• joint or muscle pains with weakness or cramps
• vomiting, diarrhea, chills, itching, headache, sweating, and dizziness
• reversal of temperature sensation in the mouth, nightmares, hallucinations.

CIGUATERA FISH POISONING

• Severe cases include:
• Tearing of the eyes, chills, skin rash, itching
• Shortness of breath, death due to respiratory failure
• Symptoms begin within a few minutes to 6 hours after consumption
• Ciguatera can last for weeks to even months

HOW TO PREVENT CIGUATERA

• Clean fish as soon as possible after they are caught or purchased.
• Do not eat the head, guts, liver or roe (eggs) of any reef fish
• Avoid eating fish caught at sites known to have a ciguatoxic algae problem
• Ciguatoxin is not destroyed by heat, cooking, drying, salting, or freezing,
• no smell, taste or appearance

CURES FOR CIGUATERA

• Discontinue consumption of fish and fish products
• As well as shellfish, alcohol, and nuts for several months
• Certain medicines are said to help

SOURCES:

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2579736/