Scombroid: Difference between revisions

 
(3 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
==Background==
*Caused by eating fish which have been improperly stored/refrigerated
*Caused by eating fish which have been improperly stored/refrigerated
**Bacteria grow and produce heat-stable toxin that causes histamine release when consumed<ref name="Craig">Craig SA, Zich DK: Gastroenteritis, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 7. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2010, (Ch) 92:p 1211-1222</ref>
**Bacteria grow and convert histidine in fish via histidine decarboxylase to histamine and histamine-like substances responsible for symptoms<ref name="Craig">Craig SA, Zich DK: Gastroenteritis, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 7. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2010, (Ch) 92:p 1211-1222</ref>
**Patient may complain that the fish tasted like pepper, metallic, or bitter
**Patient may complain that the fish tasted like pepper, metallic, or bitter
*Frequently misdiagnosed as seafood allergy
*Frequently misdiagnosed as seafood allergy
*Most common incidence in US is state of Hawaii, followed by Florida <ref>Nguyen T, Akhtar S. Gastroenteritis. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, et al., eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2018:(Ch) 84:1129–1149.</ref>


===Causes===
===Causes===
Line 19: Line 20:


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
[[File:Hives2010.jpg|thumb|Urticarial rash]]
*Symptoms generally start within one hour of ingestion, and usually resolves within 12 hours (if untreated)
*Symptoms generally start within one hour of ingestion, and usually resolves within 12 hours (if untreated)
*Flushing, warmth, erythematous and urticarial [[rash]], [[palpitations]], [[dizziness]], [[diarrhea]], perioral burning, [[pruritus|itching]], or edema
*Flushing, warmth, erythematous and urticarial [[rash]], [[palpitations]], [[dizziness]], [[diarrhea]], perioral burning, [[pruritus|itching]], or edema
Line 42: Line 44:
==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Marine toxins and envenomations]]
*[[Marine toxins and envenomations]]
*[[Erythematous rash]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 20:51, 18 January 2021

Background

  • Caused by eating fish which have been improperly stored/refrigerated
    • Bacteria grow and convert histidine in fish via histidine decarboxylase to histamine and histamine-like substances responsible for symptoms[1]
    • Patient may complain that the fish tasted like pepper, metallic, or bitter
  • Frequently misdiagnosed as seafood allergy
  • Most common incidence in US is state of Hawaii, followed by Florida [2]

Causes

Ingestion of:

  • Fish
    • Tuna
    • Bluefish
    • Mahi-mahi
    • Herring
    • Mackerel
    • Skip-jack
    • Sardine
    • Bonito
  • Swiss cheese (contaminated)

Clinical Features

Urticarial rash

Differential Diagnosis

  • Ciguatera - similar clinical presentation, different fish

Acute allergic reaction

Erythematous rash

Evaluation

  • Generally clinical diagnosis
  • Consider if symptoms present in multiple patients who ate same fish

Management

Disposition

  • Typically see a prompt response to treatment with antihistamines
  • Generally may be discharged

See Also

References

  1. Craig SA, Zich DK: Gastroenteritis, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 7. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2010, (Ch) 92:p 1211-1222
  2. Nguyen T, Akhtar S. Gastroenteritis. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, et al., eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2018:(Ch) 84:1129–1149.