Shellfish Poisoning Caused by Toxins Contamination
Poisoning from shellfish occurs after you eat toxin contaminated mollusks or crustaceans, such as oysters, clams, cockles, scallops, mussels, crabs, and lobsters.
Several small marine organisms produce the toxins responsible and this type of poisoning is rare.
Shellfish either eat or filter these marine organisms and concentrate the toxin in their bodies. Contaminated shellfish are usually found along the coasts of countries with temperate and tropical marine waters, warm weather areas.
After eating toxin contaminated shellfish, a variety of symptoms will present within a few minutes to a couple of hours. Generally your symptoms will range from tingling or numbness of the face, arms, and legs at the beginning, followed by headache, dizziness, nausea, upset stomach, vomiting and loss of muscle coordination.
In most cases of shellfish poisoning, the symptoms are mild and last only a few days.
Cooking or freezing does not destroy shellfish toxins.
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