UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: Ciguatera Poisoning

Keywords: ciguatera, poisoning, fish (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/27/2007 by Fermin Barrueto, MD (Updated: 4/19/2024)
Click here to contact Fermin Barrueto, MD

Ciguatera Poisoning - The most commonly reported cause of fishborne poisoning - Most commonly big-game fish: sea bass, grouper, red snapper, yellow-tail, kingfish and sturgeon - Ciguatoxin is bioaccumulated (thus big fish) and is heat and acid stable (unaffected by cooking) - Symptoms: 6-12 hrs post-ingestion GI, paresthesias, metallic taste, ataxia and paresis of legs are possible - The classic symptom is dysesthesias (sensory reversal where cold gives intense burning sensation) - Treatment: Supportive, consider mannitol, calcium, gabapentin - Avoid the following as it may exacerbate symptoms: opioids, barbiturates, steroids