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Background. Ciguatera is a disease caused by the ingestion of fish containing the toxins of Gambierdiscus toxicus. This dinoflagellate is frequently found in damaged coral reef systems. Previously rare in Europe, this disease entity is now seen in tourists returning from tropical countries. Case series. Eighteen patients were examined between 1997 and 2002. Nine poisonings occurred in Atlantic Ocean islands, eight in Pacific Ocean islands, and one in the Egyptian Red Sea coast. Gastrointestinal signs were always present in the Atlantic areas, but were less severe or absent in the Pacific areas. All patients had sensory disturbances, and two of them had motor disturbances affecting the respiratory muscles and leading to the death of a 73-year-old man in Cuba. The 17 surviving patients returned to France and for 2 to 18 months suffered from arthralgias, myalgias, or pruritis. Conclusion. Ciguatera is a newly imported intoxication in Europe. As the number of international tourists grows each year, this type of poisoning will be seen more frequently. Furthermore, as the condition of coral reefs declines around the world and the prevalence of G. toxicus increases, physicians in non-tropical countries should be prepared to manage such poisoned patients., INTRODUCTION Ciguatera is widespread in tropical zones of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. It is a form of food poisoning caused by the consumption of normally edible fish that [...]

A middle-aged patient presents with sharp pains in his arms and legs. He staggers into the examining room and explains that he has been suffering debilitating attacks of vertigo, profuse [...]

Don't be fooled by the cool look of this jellyfish--it can be deadly to humans. The most venomous jellyfish is the sea wasp, which contains enough poison to kill 60 […]