An outbreak of allergy-like food poisoning

Eight cases of allergy-like food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of yellowfin tuna, which had been kept in stock for 10 days prior to being coo ked, are described. The main symptoms were headaches, facial flushing and p alpitation. Samples of the ingested fish were analyzed for histamine conten t, and a high level of histamine was confirmed (310 mg/100 g of fish). Cort icosteroids were given to 3 patients who exhibited dyspnea or persistent sy mptoms, while the remaining patients improved without medication. In situat ions where allergy-like clinical features are present after the ingestion o f food, the possibility of allergy-like food poisoning should be recognized and included in a differential diagnosis.