Overview
Acute ackee fruit intoxication, also known as Jamaican vomiting sickness or hypoglycin poisoning, is a toxic illness caused by eating unripe ackee fruit (Blighia sapida). The ackee fruit is safe to eat when fully ripe and properly prepared, but the unripe fruit contains powerful toxins called hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B. These toxins block the body's ability to produce energy from fat and sugar, causing blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low — a condition called hypoglycemia. This can affect the brain, liver, and other vital organs very quickly. The illness comes on suddenly, usually within a few hours of eating the unripe fruit. The most well-known symptoms are severe vomiting, followed by a period of calm, and then a second wave of vomiting. As blood sugar drops, a person may become confused, have seizures, or lose consciousness. In serious cases, the condition can be life-threatening, especially in children. Treatment focuses on raising blood sugar quickly, usually with intravenous (IV) glucose in a hospital setting, along with supportive care. There is no specific antidote. With fast medical attention, most people recover fully. Prevention is the most important tool — only eating fully ripe, properly opened ackee fruit and avoiding the seeds, which remain toxic even when ripe.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Sudden, severe vomitingDangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)Confusion or altered mental stateSeizuresLoss of consciousness or comaExtreme tiredness and weaknessAbdominal painSweatingRapid or irregular heartbeatLiver damage in severe cases
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Acute ackee fruit intoxication.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Acute ackee fruit intoxication at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Specialists
View all specialists →No specialists are currently listed for Acute ackee fruit intoxication.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Acute ackee fruit intoxication.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Acute ackee fruit intoxication.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Acute ackee fruit intoxication
No recent news articles for Acute ackee fruit intoxication.
Follow this condition to be notified when news becomes available.
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How do I know if my blood sugar and liver have fully recovered after this episode?,Are there any lasting effects I should watch for after hypoglycin poisoning?,Is it safe for me or my family to eat ackee again in the future, and how do we do so safely?,What are the warning signs that would mean I need to go back to the emergency room?,Should my children be tested or monitored after a family exposure to unripe ackee?,Are there any dietary restrictions I should follow while I recover?,How can I report this case to help public health authorities track outbreaks?
Common questions about Acute ackee fruit intoxication
What is Acute ackee fruit intoxication?
Acute ackee fruit intoxication, also known as Jamaican vomiting sickness or hypoglycin poisoning, is a toxic illness caused by eating unripe ackee fruit (Blighia sapida). The ackee fruit is safe to eat when fully ripe and properly prepared, but the unripe fruit contains powerful toxins called hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B. These toxins block the body's ability to produce energy from fat and sugar, causing blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low — a condition called hypoglycemia. This can affect the brain, liver, and other vital organs very quickly. The illness comes on suddenly, usually wi
How is Acute ackee fruit intoxication inherited?
Acute ackee fruit intoxication follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.