It is well known that, if poorly preserved, raw fish can cause a type of food poisoning known as “mackerel syndrome”, but more commonly called “sushi disease” – explains Dr. Stefano Ottolini, doctor of the emergency medical unit at Humanitas Hospital. Knowing how to recognize the symptoms when they appear, often occuring after half an hour of fish ingestion and up to 2 hours from the meal, knowing what to do is important.

Sushi sickness, the most frequent symptoms:

• Abdominal cramping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cutaneous rash
• Itching

In addition to:

• Headache
• Eye burn
• Breathing difficulties.

If these symptoms are present:

• Contact the Emergency department
• Report what has been eaten and where: this information facilitates the diagnosis of mackerel syndrome

Symptoms can be treated with antihistamine medications and the malaise generally resolves within 24 hours.

To prevent food poisoning from raw fish, it is recommended to:

• Go to trusted restaurants, where you have already eaten before
• Avoid consuming fish purchased from itinerant retailers and vendors who may not have complied with food safety regulations.
• Always check the date of preparation and expiration, avoiding buying packages that have dents or signs of poor storage.