Scombroid (Scombrotoxin poisoning)
- Often confused with allergy
- Most common cause is scrombotoxin in spoiled oily fish
- Tuna, mackerel, bonito and skipjack
- Also known as Histamine Fish Poisoning (up to 25% of wt ingested may be pure histamine)
- Symptoms and signs include
- flushing, urticaria, headache, palpitations, GI upset.
- The symptoms begin minutes after ingestion and can last hours.
- Treatment is with antihistamines
- Occasionally salbutamol and / or epinephrine are indicated
- It may be wise to refer the patient to an allergist for testing using the
same fish. This will help exclude a hypersensitivity reaction
- Histamine Fish Poisoning is a notifiable disease
