Scombroid cannot be prevented by cooking or freezing the fish. There is no other reliable way to prevent scombroid poisoning. While scombroid has many symptoms similar to an allergic reaction, scombroid food poisoning does not mean you are allergic to a particular fish.Ī person who catches his or her own fish must be careful to keep the fish refrigerated at all times, at a temperature no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In severe cases, people may become dehydrated and need treatment with nausea medications or intravenous fluids. More serious symptoms of trouble breathing, swelling of the tongue and mouth, and chest pain, require treatment in an emergency room with antihistamines. Home treatment for mild to moderate symptoms includes taking over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) and drinking fluids to prevent dehydration. However, most people recover quickly without treatment, and symptoms are usually gone within 12 to 24 hours. Scombroid poisoning is uncomfortable, and some individuals may require treatment in a hospital for dehydration or other symptoms. Most people experience some combination of flushing and rash on the face and upper body, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms of scombroid fish poisoning begin quickly, within about 15 minutes to 2 hours after eating the fish. This accounts for the allergic-type symptoms that occur with scombroid poisoning, and also explains why antihistamines help control the symptoms. When people eat the fish, they consume a large amount of histamine that is absorbed into the bloodstream. Bacteria act on compounds in the fish meat, forming histamine, the chemical that is responsible for causing allergies and allergic reactions. The most common fish responsible for scombroid poisoning are tuna, mahi-mahi, mackerel, amberjack, and herring, although many other types of fish can cause scombroid.

Scombroid poisoning happens when people consume certain types of fish that have not been refrigerated properly from the time they were caught until the time they were served. What you can't smell can't hurt you, right? Wrong! Eating certain fish that have not been properly stored can cause dramatic symptoms.

Food poisoning recovery timeline