Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006;44(2):185-8.

Hallucinatory fish poisoning (ichthyoallyeinotoxism): two case reports from the Western Mediterranean and literature review.

de Haro L1, Pommier P.

• 1Toxicovigilance, Centre Antipoison, Hôpital Salvator, Marseille, France. luc.deharo@ap-hm.fr

Abstract

Ichthyoallyeinotoxism is a rare kind of food poisoning contracted following the ingestion of fish. The responsible toxins are unknown, and the clinical feature is characterized by the development of CNS disturbances, especially hallucinations and nightmares.

As the implicated fish species may be also related to ciguatera poisoning, there may be possible confusion between the two fish-borne intoxications.

In order to clarify this, the literature pertaining to "dreamfish" was reviewed and two cases are presented.

A 40-year-old man experienced mild digestive troubles and terrifying visual and auditory hallucinations after eating a specimen of Sarpa salpa in a restaurant. As he had severe behaviour troubles, he was managed in the hospital and recovered 36 h after the meal. He was unable to recall the hallucinatory period.

Another man, 90-years-old and previously healthy, had auditory hallucinations 2 h after eating a specimen of Sarpa salpa. The two following nights, he had numerous nightmares and recovered spontaneously after a period of 3 days.

PMID:  16615678