Shellfish Poisoning, Paralysis

Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow

• Shellfish Poisoning Paralysis Overview
• Shellfish Poisoning Paralysis Symptoms
• Shellfish Poisoning Paralysis Treatment
• When to Seek Medical Care
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Shellfish Poisoning Paralysis Overview

Shellfish poisoning can occur after eating clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, cockles, starfish, and crustaceans that consume dinoflagellates during a red tide. During a red tide, sea waters turn a reddish color because large numbers of red organisms (dinoflagellates) are present. Dinoflagellates kill fish and other organisms by releasing toxins (poisonous substances). Consequently, shellfish take in the concentrated saxitoxin, a poison that causes paralysis.

Red tides are most common in the cold waters of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Japan. A red tide rarely occurs in warmer climates. People are poisoned when they unknowingly eat shellfish contaminated during a red tide with saxitoxins.

Shellfish that is contaminated during a red tide does not have an abnormal taste, smell, or color, and the toxin is not destroyed by heating or cooking. Paralysis due to shellfish poisoning follows a similar progression to that of pufferfish poisoning.