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Summer and vacations equal an increase in the consumption of fish and seafood. Spending the summer in coastal places ensures that we access these products at a reasonable price and, above all, with excellent quality.
And although the plan is tempting, you have to be careful when consuming seafood as they can be loaded with a very famous parasite, anisakis.
It is a worm-shaped parasite, white in color, about 3 cm long and less than 1 mm thick.
As explained by the Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System (FEAD), the larvae of these parasites are found in the intestine and some organs of the abdominal cavity of the fish, although they can be encapsulated in the muscles.
And be careful! It not only appears in "wild" fish, but farmed ones can also harbor these undesirable little worms.
What type of fish can have anisakis?
Dr. Francisco Garcia Fernandez of the FEAD explains that the species most parasitized by anisakis are the hake and tuna. It can also be found in whiting, blue whiting, monkfish or mackerel.
«However, those that produce the most episodes of Anisakiasis are fish that are consumed with less preparation (raw, marinated...), such as anchovy, anchovy and sardine«warns the doctor.
And it must be taken into account that this parasite is capable of surviving high temperatures, up to 50ºC, contact with vinegar and some smoking methods.
There are other species that can also house anisakis inside: crustaceans such as lobster, shrimp or crab; or cephalopods such as octopus, cuttlefish or squid.
For bivalve lovers we have good news. Mussels, others, cockles or clams are free of anisakis. "Their way of feeding, by filtration, prevents the larva from nesting in them," comments the doctor.
In any case, digestive health experts explain that "preserves are safe since the food is cooked before being canned (excluding anchovies or pickles in this case)."
Symptoms of an anisakis infection
The data available to the FEAD on the incidence of this parasite in the population is undervalued because, as experts recognize, the number of cases "is probably much higher than that published since the symptoms it causes can be attributed to other processes and not be documented as Anisakiasis.
The symptoms that we suffer from an anisakis infection occur 48 hours after ingestion, when the larvae begin to penetrate the mucosa of the stomach or small intestine.
The discomfort can be very varied depending on the Foundation of the Digestive System:
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How to avoid anisakis?
Health authorities tell us that it is quite easy to avoid anisakis because the methods for its elimination are very easy to do in our own kitchen.
So what do we have to do to eliminate it from fish or seafood?
I have been infected by anisakis. What do I do?
Generally this type of intoxications They are not serious and their symptoms improve spontaneously. And there is no specific treatment against this type of parasitic infection.
For digestive discomfort, you can take proton pump inhibitors, better known as gastric protectors. If an intestinal obstruction occurs, corticosteroids may be a good option.
If, in addition to the infection, an allergic reaction occurs, corticosteroids will also have to be used, in addition to the antihistamines.
