Cyanobacterial Blooms: Information for Healthcare Providers
People can become ill from cyanobacteria or their toxins through ingestion, direct skin contact, or inhalation. There are no clinically available diagnostic tests for cyanotoxins or treatments for illnesses caused by cyanobacterial blooms, but you can help relieve patients’ symptoms by providing supportive medical care.
Cyanobacterial bloom basics
Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) can grow quickly, or bloom, when the water is warm, slow-moving, and full of nutrients. Cyanobacterial blooms are most commonly found in fresh water such as lakes, rivers, and streams. Blooms can discolor the water and look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface. These blooms sometimes produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that can cause illness.
Common cyanotoxins include:
- Microcystins
- Cylindrospermopsin
- Anatoxins
- Guanitoxin, formerly known as anatoxin-a(S)
- Saxitoxins
- Nodularins
- Lyngbyatoxins
Advise your patients: You cannot tell if a bloom is toxic just by looking at it. When in doubt, it’s best to stay out!
Exposure and health impacts
- People are most often exposed while swimming, boating, or doing other activities in or near water with a cyanobacterial bloom. People can also be exposed through contaminated tap water; seafood; dietary supplements; or, infrequently, dialysis.
- Symptoms and signs depend on how people were exposed, how long they were exposed, and the types of toxins they were exposed to.
- Pet illness may provide additional evidence that a patient could have an illness caused by a cyanobacterial bloom. Dogs and other animals might have more severe symptoms than people, including collapse and sudden death.
Tests and treatments
- There are currently no clinically available diagnostic tests for cyanotoxins.
- Medical care is supportive. There are no known antidotes to cyanotoxins or specific treatments for illnesses caused by cyanobacteria and their toxins.
ICD-10-CM codes can be used in diagnosing and recording harmful algal and cyanobacterial bloom-related illnesses.
- T65.82 Toxic effect harmful algae & algae toxins
- Z77.121 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to harmful algae and algae toxins
Exposure to cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins and possible health effects
Potential exposure
- Swallowing water contaminated with cyanobacteria or toxins
- Eating contaminated fish or dietary supplements
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
Possible signs and symptoms
Possible signs and symptoms
Possible signs and symptoms
Hepatotoxins and nephrotoxins
- Microcystins
- Nodularins
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
Hepatotoxins and nephrotoxins
- Microcystins
- Nodularins
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Bad taste in mouth
- Acute hepatitis, jaundice
- Blood in urine or dark urine
- Malaise, lethargy
- Headache, fever
- Loss of appetite
Possible signs and symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Bad taste in mouth
- Acute hepatitis, jaundice
- Blood in urine or dark urine
- Malaise, lethargy
- Headache, fever
- Loss of appetite
Neurotoxins
- Anatoxin
- Guanitoxin, formerly known as anatoxin-a(S)
- Saxitoxins
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
Neurotoxins
- Anatoxin
- Guanitoxin, formerly known as anatoxin-a(S)
- Saxitoxins
- Progression of muscle twitches
- For saxitoxin: high doses may lead to progressive muscle paralysis
Possible signs and symptoms
- Progression of muscle twitches
- For saxitoxin: high doses may lead to progressive muscle paralysis
Information source for possible symptoms and signs
- Data from laboratory animal studies
- Extreme human exposure events (e.g., dialysis with contaminated water)
- Animal exposures
Potential exposure
- Skin contact with water that is contaminated with cyanobacteria or toxins
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
- Dermal toxins
Possible symptoms and signs
- Allergic dermatitis (including rash, itching, and blisters)
- Conjunctivitis
Information source for possible symptoms and signs
- Data from human studies
Potential exposure
- Inhaling aerosols contaminated with cyanobacteria or toxins
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
- Microcystins, others
Possible symptoms and signs
- Upper respiratory irritation (wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath)
Information source for possible symptoms and signs
- Anecdotal evidence from human exposures
- Data from human studies
Potential exposure
- Dialysis water contaminated with microcystins
Common cyanotoxins that can cause illness
- Hepatotoxins
- Microcystins
Possible symptoms and signs
- Liver damage, liver failure, death
Information source for possible symptoms and signs
- Data from inadvertent human exposures
Information about human health effects from exposure to cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins is primarily derived from a few epidemiology studies of recreational exposures; studies with laboratory animals; reports of extreme human exposure events, such as the use of toxin-contaminated dialysis water; and from animal (e.g., cattle and pet dog) exposures. The long-term health effects of cyanobacterial blooms are being studied but remain unclear. References are available on the Publications, Data, and Statistics page.
Report illnesses
Contact your local or state health department to report a cyanobacterial bloom or related health event.
Exposure questions
Contact your local poison control centerexternal icon at 1-800-222-1222 for questions about exposures to cyanobacterial blooms.
- Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Illnesses: A Clinician Training Module for Physicians and Healthcare Providersexternal icon—Association of State and Territorial Health Officials