Ciguatera fish poisoning

Ciguatera fish poisoning

Ciguatera poisoning is a form of food poisoning caused by eating warm water ocean fish that have ciguatera poison (toxin). The toxin is produced by a small organism called a dinoflagellate, which attaches to algae in warm ocean water reef areas. Small plant eating fish eat this algae, and the toxin then accumulates and is concentrated in larger predatory fish. Many species of fish have been known to cause ciguatera poisoning in humans.
The toxin does not affect the appearance, odour or taste of the fish and is not destroyed by cooking, refrigeration or freezing.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms usually occur within 1 to 24 hours of eating a toxic fish and include:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea and/or abdominal (stomach) cramps
• headaches, fatigue and fainting
• joint and muscle pain
• tingling around the mouth, fingers and toes
• burning sensation or skin pain on contact with cold water
• extreme itchiness
• coma in severe cases.

Seek medical attention at the onset of symptoms.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of ciguatoxin in fish linked to the case of poisoning.
People recovering from ciguatera fish poisoning should avoid eating warm water ocean fish for at least 6 months, and avoid alcohol for at least 3 months.

Prevention

Avoid eating large warm water fish, especially the head, roe, liver and other internal organs where ciguatera toxin is more concentrated.