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What Are The Repercussions Of Eating An Expired Fish?

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Posted on Wed, 22 Jun 2016
Question: I ate some fish which was a day past the expiration date, however, as I was finishing it, I notice a small worm. I felt like throwing up, but did not. That was last night. I have not had diarrhea. Is there anything I should take as a precaution? YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
nothing for now...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

there is nothing you can do right now. Since you didn't notice anything when eating like a nasty odor or altered taste, it's possible that the fish was OK. I don't know where the worm came from but it seems reasonable to believe that the worm got in the package by mistake. It would seem too strange for the fish to be so rotten that worms were crawling all over it just one day after the expiration date. The expiration date is supposed to be a safe date, which means that the food is supposed to be OK for even days past the date.

If you develop any symptoms then appropriate testing and treatment would be required. A microscopic examination of the stool to check for parasites, white blood cells and blood and a stool culture.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (22 minutes later)
Thank you, but I have two follow-up questions. Suppose the fish was bad (it was very heavy seasoned) what can I do to be pro-active in trying to stop any bacteria/parasites? What symptoms should I be watching out for?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
nothing you can do before symptoms occur

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

There is nothing you can until you have symptoms. It's very likely that you won't have symptoms. Usually rotten food contains preformed toxins and toxins act very fast (within 6-24 hours) to cause vomiting at first and diarrhea later.

Regarding pro-active measures, there is nothing you can do... If symptoms develop you'll have to do tests and receive treatment if high fever occurs or a treatable pathogen is detected.

Common symptoms in cases of food-borne gastroenteritis include nausea, vomiting, fever (sometimes high fever with rigor), diarrhea which could be watery or bloody, abdominal pain. Any of the aforementioned symptoms will mean progression to disease, so you'll have to visit your doctor at once.

Good luck!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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What Are The Repercussions Of Eating An Expired Fish?

Brief Answer: nothing for now... Detailed Answer: Hello, there is nothing you can do right now. Since you didn't notice anything when eating like a nasty odor or altered taste, it's possible that the fish was OK. I don't know where the worm came from but it seems reasonable to believe that the worm got in the package by mistake. It would seem too strange for the fish to be so rotten that worms were crawling all over it just one day after the expiration date. The expiration date is supposed to be a safe date, which means that the food is supposed to be OK for even days past the date. If you develop any symptoms then appropriate testing and treatment would be required. A microscopic examination of the stool to check for parasites, white blood cells and blood and a stool culture. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!