The onset of aflatoxin poisoning varies, with acute poisoning showing symptoms in 2 to 12 hours.
Aflatoxin poisoning is generally categorized into acute poisoning, chronic poisoning and carcinogenicity. Acute poisoning is mainly due to impaired liver function, usually appearing in 2~12 hours with stomach upset, abdominal distension, vomiting, fever, jaundice, and tenderness in the liver area. Acute poisoning may also have serious consequences such as ascites, lower limb edema, enlarged spleen, gastrointestinal bleeding, coma or even death.
For patients with chronic aflatoxin poisoning, there can be an incubation period of 2~3 weeks, and patients will gradually show symptoms such as stomach discomfort, fatigue, dizziness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and so on. Chronic poisoning will occur after a certain time of chronic liver damage, such as hepatocellular degeneration, cirrhosis and so on.
In addition, aflatoxin is also one of the most carcinogenic chemicals, a class 1 carcinogen, and is closely related to the occurrence of liver cancer. In daily life, when suspected of consuming moldy food after abdominal discomfort, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal distension symptoms need to immediately seek medical treatment.