Scombroid fish poisoning is a syndrome caused by ingestion of food contaminated with scombrotoxin. Although it may also occur in other food, it occurs predominantly in fishes. It is also commonly called histamine fish poisoning as symptoms resemble an allergic reaction that occurs after eating fish contaminated with high levels of histamine, which will be discussed further later. Poison does not necessarily affect everyone who eats contaminated fish. The occurrence of scombroid fish poisoning is worldwide, commonly in temperate and tropical waters.
There is no available and completely reliable test that would asses if the food, or fish, in this scenario, contains the toxin. Although cooking will kill the bacteria responsible for producing the toxins, the toxins can remain in the tissues and can be absorbed by the body after ingestion. This is because histamine is heat resistant.
The Toxin behind Scombroid Fish Poisoning
Scombrotoxin is the toxin behind scombroid food poisoning. The toxin is produced by the improper storage of dark meat of the fish (without continuous refrigeration) and the bacteria. Some species of fish that are susceptible to scombroid poisoning are albacore, amberjack, anchovy, Australian salmon, bluefish, bonito, kahawai, herring, mackerel, mahi-mahi, needlefish, saury, sardine, skipjack, wahoo and yellow fin tuna. These species mostly come from the Scombridae family.Scombrotoxin is hypothesized to be a combination of histamine and histamine-like chemicals.
Symptoms of Scombroid Fish Poisoning
There is no definite time for onset of symptoms. Symptoms of scombroid fish poisoning may manifest within minutes but sometimes, it can take hours after ingestion for the toxin to produce a “histamine reaction.” Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Tingling and burning sensations around the mouth
- Facial flushing
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Itching and hives
- Rashes
- Palpitations
- Fever
First Aid Management of Scombroid Fish Poisoning
Scombroid fish poisoning is generally mild and symptoms lasting only for some time, thus medical treatment may be unnecessary. However, applying first aid in this scenario can greatly help relieve its victim of symptoms which may be providing discomfort. To give first aid:
- Induce vomiting if the person is awake and alert, especially if within three hours of ingestion.
- Drink small but frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration.
- Adults should be treated with diphenhydramine 25 to 50mg every six hours and one tablet of ranitidine every twelve hours. Do not give the same treatment for children. Consult with a physician before giving and medications.
Prevention of Scombroid Fish Poisoning
There are several ways to avoid scombroid fish poisoning. Prevention is better than cure, thus if it can be avoided, do so. Some of these prevention tips include:
- Refrigerate the fish from the time it was captured to the time before it is cooked.
- Do not consume fish with bad odor or with a “honey-combed” appearance.
- If the fish is suspected of scombroid poisoning, do not consume and send to a laboratory for analysis.
To learn how to treat scombroid fish poisoning and other types of poisoning (inhalation, skin contact, etc.), enroll in First Aid Training to acquire skills for proper treatment and management.