Scombroid fish poisoning is
a mild to moderate form of food poisoning caused by eating spoiled or bacterial
contaminated fish after capture or during subsequent handling and storage. Its
symptoms are similar to those of fish allergy though it gives negative results to allergy tests. Because of
that, most clinicians misdiagnose scombroid or histamine fish poisoning, and
erroneously advise their patients never to eat the same fish again. A
prospective descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the
contributing factors of scombroid fish poisoning among fish consumers and
health care personnel residents in Dar es Salaam. Results showed 49.6% of fish
consumers and 60% of health care workers were aware of scombroid fish
poisoning. Among those with awareness, 2.2% of fish consumers had average
knowledge and the remainder had low knowledge, while 6.3% of health care
workers had good knowledge, and
42.9% and 50.8% had average
to low knowledge, respectively. Mackerel was frequently listed among the
scombroid fish associated with scombroid fish poisoning followed by tuna and
king fish. Rashes (59%), diarrhoea (21.6%) and skin itching (19.4%) were the
frequently mentioned symptoms by respondents. Aggressive health promotion
interventions should be designed and implemented to increase awareness of
histamine fish poisoning to general public including the health care personnel.
Cite this paper
Bulula, N. , Mugoyela, V. and Kaale, E. (2017). Investigation of Contributing Factors to Scombroid Fish Poisoning among Dar es Salaam City Residents in Tanzania. Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3992. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103992.
Etkind, P., Wilson, M.E., Gallagher, K., et al. (1987) Bluefish-Associated Scombroid Poisoning. An Example of the Expanding Spectrum of Food Poisoning from Seafood. JAMA, 258, 3409-3410. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1987.03400230069034
Lehane, L. and Olley, J. (2000) Histamine Fish Poisoning Revisited. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 58, 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1605(00)00296-8
Sapin-Jaloustre, H. and Sapin-Jaloustre, J. (1957) A Little-Known Food Poisoning: Histamine Poisoning from Tuna. Concours Medicine Paris, 79, 2705-2708.
Chamberlain, T. (2001) Histamine Levels in Longlined Tuna in Fiji: A Comparison of Samples from Two Different Body Sites and Effect of Storage at Different Temperatures. The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science, 19, 30-34.
Wu, M.L., Yang, G.Y., Yang, C.C., Ger, J. and Deng, J.F. (1997) Scombroid Fish Poisoning: An Overlooked Marine Food Poisoning. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 39, 236-241.
Ngwegwe, B. (2012) Masters of Pharmacy (Clinical Pharmacy). Dissertation, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. http://ihi.eprints.org/1613/1/Ngwegwe_Bulula%2C_B.Pharm.pdf
Clifford, M.N., Walker, R. and Wright, J. (1989) Studies with Volunteers on the Role of Histamine in Suspected Scombrotoxicosis. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 47, 365-375. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740470311
Hwang, D.F., Chang, S.H., Shyau, C.Y. and Cheng, C.C. (1995) Biogenic Amines in the Flesh of Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) Responsible for Scombroid Poisoning. Journal of Food Science, 60, 926-928. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1995.tb06263.x
Kaneko, J.J. (2000) Development of a HACCP-Based Strategy for the Control of Histamine for the Fresh Tuna Industry. Final Report NOAA Award NA86FD0067, Pac Mar, Inc., Honolulu.
Gilbert, R.J., Hobbs, G., Murray, C.K., et al. (1980) Scombrotoxic Fish Poisoning: Features of the First 50 Incidents to Be Reported in Britain. BMJ, 2, 71-72.
Maire, R., Dreiding, K. and Wyss, P.A. (1992) Incidence and Clinical Aspects of Scombroid Fish Poisoning. Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift, 122, 1933-1935.
Bartholomev, B.A., Berry, P.R., Rodhouse, J.C. and Gilhouse, R.J. (1987) Scombrotoxic Fish Poisoning in Britain: Features of over 250 Suspected Incidents from 1976 to 1986. Epidemiology & Infection, 99, 775-782. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268800066632
Becker, K., Southwick, K., Reardon, J., Berg, R. and MacCormack, J.N. (2001) Histamine Poisoning Associated with Eating Tuna Burgers. JAMA, 285, 2977-2978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.285.10.1327
Attaran, R.R. and Probst, F. (2002) Histamine Fish Poisoning; A Common but Frequently Misdiagnosed Condition. Emergency Medicine Journal, 19, 474-475. https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.19.5.474
Miki, M., Ishikawa, T. and Okayama, H. (2005) An Outbreak of Histamine Poisoning after Ingestion of the Ground Saury Paste, to Eighteen Patients Taking Isoniazid in Tuberculous Ward. Internal Medicine, 44, 1133-1136. https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.44.1133
Auckland Allergy Clinic, 185 Jervois Road Herne Bay, Auckland Bay, New Zeland 6493766185; Scombroid (Histamine) Fish Poisoning and Other Seafoods-Related Illnesses Masquerading as Allergies.
Ravindra, A., et al. (2012) Sample Size Estimation in Prevalence Studies. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 79, 1482-1488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0763-3