Ciguatera Fish Poisoning and Fish Tapeworm Infection
Ciguatera fish poisoning and fish tapeworm infection sickens about 500,000 people worldwide every year. While most victims recover with several weeks of treatment, in some cases ciguatera and fish tapeworm infection lead to serious complications, such as paralysis, dangerously slow heart rate, respiratory failure and megaloblastic anemia. The most common source of fish poisoning and fish tapeworm infection is raw or undercooked seafood, especially large tropical reef fish, such as barracuda, red snapper and king mackerel.
Ciguatera Symptoms and Treatment
Ciguatera fish poisoning is caused by ciguatoxin, a toxin found in large tropical and subtropical reef fish. The toxin is produced by microalgae that are ingested by small fish and later move up the food chain as smaller fish are eaten by predator fish. The ciguatoxin is especially dangerous because it cannot be killed by heating or freezing the fish. Once ingested by humans, the toxin attacks the gastrointestinal and neurological systems, causing a range of distressing symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, anxiety, numbness and reversal of hot and cold sensations. Because there is no antidote for ciguatoxin, ciguatera treatment consists of managing complications and relieving the symptoms. Most ciguatera victims receive rehydration therapy to restore the lost body fluids, as well as Benadryl to relieve the itch caused by ciguatoxin. While most fish poisoning patients recover within several weeks, some are left with long-term complications, such as paralysis and low heart rate.
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning Legal Recourse
While ciguatera usually appears in the form of isolated fish poisoning cases, large-scale outbreaks are not uncommon. In 2007, North Carolina became the epicenter of a fish poisoning epidemic that sickened at least nine people, two of whom experienced long-lasting complications. Later the same year, 10 people in St. Louis developed ciguatera symptoms after eating at two seafood restaurants. In both cases, the ciguatera victims might be able to hold the responsible eateries financially liable for their physical and emotional suffering by proving that they suffered damages due to contaminated food served at the restaurants. This usually requires filing a personal injury lawsuit, such as those filed earlier by several Florida ciguatera poisoning victims who were subsequently able to obtain six-figure settlements.
Fish Tapeworm Infection: Diphyllobothriasis
Diphyllobothriasis is a fish tapeworm infection caused by an organism called Diphyllobothrium latum. Humans typically acquire this infection by eating raw or undercooked fish containing fish tapeworm larvae. In the human intestines, the fish tapeworm can grow up to 30 feet long while producing almost no symptoms. Some fish tapeworm victims, however, notice lack of appetite and weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting as the disease progresses. In advanced stages, diphyllobothriasis can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to the onset of megaloblastic anemia. Once the fish tapeworm infection has been diagnosed, victims are usually administered a single dose of praziquantel to cure the infection, as well as vitamin B12 to treat vitamin deficiency.
Ciguatera and Fish Tapeworm Infection Legal Help
Commercial fish farming and worldwide distribution practices have made a large variety of fish available to numerous consumers. However, these practices have also increased the risks of contracting ciguatoxin and fish tapeworm infection. If you believe that you or your loved one has become a victim of ciguatera or fish tapeworm infection after eating a contaminated meal at a restaurant or consuming fish bought at a store, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz at (888) 255-2956 to thoroughly discuss your case and initiate prompt legal action. In addition to negotiating and litigating fish tapeworm infection and ciguatera cases, the attorneys of AWKO Law have considerable experience helping victims of salmonella, botulism, shigella and E. coli food poisoning advance their legal rights.
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Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
803 North Palafox St.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
55 Baybridge Dr.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
