CFP has been reported to cause more than 100 gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms, such as numbness and tingling around the mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness. Acute symptoms appear from 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating the toxic fish. While most symptoms are similar to other food poisoning illnesses, hot and cold reversal – a burning sensation induced by contact with cold objects – is a classic CFP symptom.
There is no antidote or specific treatments for CFP. Previous CFP episodes, as well as the ingestion of alcoholic beverages, nuts and seed products, may exacerbate the severity of CFP symptoms.
In some patients, symptoms can persist for months or years. Symptoms may also recur from time to time up to years, triggered by eating certain foods (e.g. alcohol, nuts, dairy products and fish), changing behaviours (e.g. intense physical activity) or other factors (e.g. sun exposure).