Scombroid pancreatitis from mahi-mahi consumption

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman with no significant previous medical history presented to an urgent care facility with generalised rash, flushing and abdominal pain after eating mahi-mahi. She was diagnosed with an allergic reaction and discharged home. Later she experienced severe acute abdominal pain and multiple episodes of vomiting, which prompted her to go to the hospital. On admission, the patient had an elevated white count, lipase, amylase and C reactive protein with normal liver enzymes and bilirubin. Imaging showed acute pancreatitis that was suspected to be secondary to scombroid poisoning. This was confirmed by elevated immunoglobulin E and histamine levels. The acute pancreatitis was treated with pain management and supportive treatment. Scombroid poisoning is a well-recognised disease, however, acute pancreatitis secondary to this is rare as only two cases have been reported in the literature, one with codfish and the second an unknown type of fish.