Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

Does anybody in our forum have any experience and treatment information on Ciguatera Fish Poisoning?

Two very good friends of mine just came from Maui last Friday and brought home a 33 lb barracuda freshly caught by their local spearfishing friend along with other well known Hawaiian fishes. Cooked the cuda well and enjoyed it so much only to be affected by Ciguatera Fish Poisoning the following day. Did not know it right away but after reading about the barracuda/Ciguatera toxin and its poisoning symptoms, we have to conclude that it was Ciguatera Fish Poisoning.

Internet inputs are not very favorable as:
1. No effective treatment or antidote.
2. The symptoms can last from weeks to years and in extreme cases as long as 20 years, often leading to long term disability.

What's currently being done?
1. Enema.
2. Drink tea.
3. Avoid salt, seafood and alcohol.
4. Eat sugary foods.
5. Avoid nuts, seeds, fish, fish containing products, chicken/eggs, fumes from bleaches or other chemicals.
6. Maintain hydration.
7. Trash all the remaining cuda meats.

Spoke to them last night and they are doing a bit better but feels very very weak. Going to see them again tonite hopefully with other suggestions and encouraging inputs.

Advance thanks.

Danny

Appears that you read the same material I did on WebMD about ciguatera poisoning.  Maybe it isn't cituatera.  Could it have been a bacteria explosion from improper packaging/storage for the trip home from Hawaii? 

Regardless, sounds like a nasty affliction to deal with. 

Oh man.  Sorry to hear you and your friends are afflicted.  I don't have any first hand experience with cig but I would reach out to the cig researchers in Hawaii for help.  I'm sure there are scientists that study them over there as I've heard there is a cig test kit (which is not very reliable).  Also, go to other fishing/spearfishing sites with participants from the tropics and inquire about their remedies. 

Good luck,
Nate

I caught a small one in Baja waters several years ago. Fried it in steak form and ate with no ill effects.