Unfriendly fungi: Mushrooms may cause poisonings

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Posted Online: 2006-09-23

Unfriendly fungi: Mushrooms may cause poisonings

Illinois Poison Center experts warn of mushroom dangers

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Illinois residents will soon see mushrooms popping up in their

neighborhoods and nearby forest preserves as the cool, damp weather

of fall sets in.

Illinois Poison Center experts warn that touching or eating these

wild mushrooms may be dangerous, possibly even deadly.

" The Illinois Poison Center receives hundreds of calls each year

regarding mushrooms found in people's lawns and neighborhood parks, "

explained Dr. Wahl, managing medical director, IPC. " These

mushrooms can be very poisonous and people should never eat them. "

Health risks associated with mushrooms

Certain mushrooms, such as the false morel, may cause vomiting,

stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. More serious signs of poisoning

may include seizures, coma and death. Other mushrooms, such as the

Psilocybe species,

contain a hallucinogen. People who have eaten these mushrooms

suffered from vivid hallucinations and flashbacks.

Mushrooms in the Amanita family are the most poisonous and are

responsible for most of the mushroom-related deaths that occur each

year. These mushrooms can cause liver damage; however, they do not

produce symptoms until many hours after they are eaten. This can

result in delayed treatment and adverse outcomes. That is why it is

critical not to wait for symptoms to appear; if a poisoning is

suspected, call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222

immediately.

Each individual may experience symptoms differently, and as with

most poisons, symptoms experienced will depend on many factors, such

as age, weight, amount consumed, etc.

Identifying poisonous mushrooms

Mushroom identification is extremely difficult and complex and is

best left to the experts, who are known as mycologists. The Illinois

Poison Center recommends not eating any wild mushroom unless you are

100 percent sure that is not poisonous.

What to do in an emergency

If you or someone you know may have eaten a potentially poisonous

mushroom, call the Illinois Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-

1222.

Collect the mushroom in question and carefully dig up a few

additional mushrooms, complete with underground parts, to help with

the identification.

If there is more than one kind of mushroom in the area, collect all

of the different types. Note if the mushroom was growing on wood,

soil or other material, or if it was growing alone or in clusters.

If possible, take a digital photo of the mushroom to send to the IPC

center staff. Using the digital images, the poison center staff

consults with expert mycologists in different parts of the state to

obtain an initial identification of the mushroom, helping IPC staff

make appropriate treatment recommendations.