| Disease/Syndrome |
Ciguatera fish poisoning |
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| Category |
Acute Poison |
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| Acute/Chronic |
Acute-Moderate |
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| Synonyms |
Ciguatoxin poisoning |
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| Biomedical References |
Search PubMed |
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| Comments |
Symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning begin within an hour of eating and include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, paresthesias, pain and weakness of the lower extremities, and bradycardia. Distortion of temperature sensation, bizarre tastes, and "aching teeth" are frequently reported. Complete recovery within a few weeks is the usual course. Severe cases with coma and respiratory arrest within 24 hours of ingestion have been reported. [CCDM, p. 218-9] Other symptoms may include pruritis, headache, myalgia, reversal of hot/cold sensations, and facial pain. [Merck Manual, p. 2665] Heart abnormalities include bradycardia, hypotension, T wave abnormalities on EKG. Toxin most commonly found in large reef fish (grouper, red snapper, amberjack, and barracuda). [Foodborne Illnesses. MMWR. 4/16/04] Poisoning has also been reported after eating parrotfish, sea bass, surgeon fish, and ulua. Other symptoms are nightmares and hallucinations. [CDC Travel, p. 469] Other findings are aphonia, fatigue, tremor, ataxia, vertigo, and arthralgias. [Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 2004. MerckMedicus] |
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| Latency/Incubation |
GI symptoms: 2-6 hrs; Neurological: 3 hrs; Heart: 2-5 days; [Foodborne Illnesses. MMWR. April 16, 2004] |
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| Diagnostic |
Clinical; Radioassay for toxin in fish; |
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| ICD-9 Code |
988.0 |
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| Scope |
Where reef fish are eaten: S. Florida, Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii, and S. Pacific islands; [CCDM, p. 218] |
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| Reference Link |
CDC - Ciguatera |
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| Related Information in Haz-Map |
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| Symptoms/Findings |
Symptoms/Findings associated with this disease:
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| Job Tasks |
High risk job tasks associated with this disease:
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| Agents |
Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:
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