Ciguatera fish poisoning

Ciguatera fish poisoning occurred in four patients on a holiday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The symptoms, consisting of severe gastrointestinal and neurologic manifestations, developed within hours after the ingestion of a large red snapper. Diagnosis was made after they returned to New York. Ciguatera fish poisoning is a disease with which many physicians in temperate climates are unfamiliar. Its epidemiologic, clinical, pharmacologic, and chemical characteristics are presented. Since international travel is becoming increasingly common, physicians may expect to see more of this type of fish poisoning in the future.