Fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein in the human diet, but like all food products, there are potential illnesses associated with eating it. One of the rare side effects of eating fish is Haff disease, a syndrome of unexplained rhabdomyolysis. Though the causes of the illness remain a mystery, it appears to predominantly affect people who eat freshwater fish and crustaceans.
In Rhabdomyolysis, leaked muscle cells known as myoglobin can circulate to the kidneys where they risk causing an obstruction, and kidney failure.
Weakness, muscle soreness, and dark brown urine are the most frequently heard complaints in patients with the condition.
Rhabdomyolysis is primarily known as a dangerous and rare side effect of over-exercising, particularly when jumping into an exercise program too fast.
“Although rhabdomyolysis can happen to anyone, certain groups have a higher risk than others of developing the condition,” explains Cleveland Clinic.
READ MORE: Freshwater fish ‘globally’ associated with risk of rhabdomyolysis
One of the lesser-known causes of rhabdomyolysis is Haff disease, caused by the consumption of fish.
The Lancet wrote in 2022: “Haff disease is a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis that typically develops 24 hours after ingesting certain fish a crustacean.
“The rapid onset of disease after consumption of these cooked foods suggests that heat-stable toxins are the cause of the disease.”
Though there is uncertainty surrounding which toxins are involved, it is believed that they do not come from the fish themselves.
DON’T MISS:
The authors continued: “An otherwise healthy 34-year-old white female presented to the emergency department (ED) with one-hour history of back pain.”
The patients described the pain as being severe and dull, and constant, radiating through the chest and up the back into the neck.
For her treatment, the patient was kept adequately hydrated with a saline solution injected intravenously to prevent kidney failure.
Fortunately, she was discharged on the third day after her creatine kinase levels – which suggest muscle cell damage – started declining.
The healthcare providers believed that a toxin in the fish, potentially similar to palytoxin causes Haff disease.
“Palytoxin is a potent vasoconstrictor, which has been found in several marine species such as sea anemones and soft coral,” noted the authors.
“It [is] known to cause rhabdomyolysis as well as excessive sweating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, cardiac arrhythmia’s, renal failure […], muscle tremors and spasms.”
The toxin is not found in freshwater fish, however, which is responsible for all cases of Haff disease reported in the US to date.
For all the latest Health News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
