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Mushroom poisoning, caused by toxic substances in certain mushrooms, can be life-threatening and often includes gastrointestinal issues. About 100 types of mushrooms are toxic to humans, with 20 being lethal. Symptoms depend on the type of toxin ingested, and treatment involves inducing vomiting and monitoring vital signs.
Mycetism, more commonly known as mushroom poisoning, is a bad reaction to the consumption of toxic substances found in certain mushrooms. While mushroom poisoning most often includes gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, the condition can be life-threatening. Treatment of yeast infections involves inducing vomiting. Over 90% of mushroom poisoning cases occur by accident when a person identifies and then mistakenly ingests a mushroom.
Of the thousands of mushroom species, about 100 types of mushrooms are toxic to humans. Of these 100 species, about 20 are lethal when consumed by humans. Cooking or boiling a mushroom does not change its toxic properties. A person may experience symptoms soon after consuming a toadstool or even days or weeks later. The severity of symptoms depends on the type of toxin ingested, and mushrooms that produce symptoms within two hours are less dangerous than those that produce symptoms much later.
One of the more deadly toxins found in mushrooms is orellanine, which can cause kidney failure three weeks after being ingested. Another potentially deadly toxin includes muscarine, which can cause respiratory failure. Additionally, alpha-amanitin is a deadly toxin that can cause liver damage within a day of consumption. Some mushrooms contain ibotenic acid or psilocybin, which can produce hallucinogenic effects and cause a person to feel agitated, fearful, and confused. Hallucinogenic mushrooms may require treatment in an intensive care unit.
When a person suffers from mushroom poisoning, they should seek immediate medical attention. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will want to identify the mushroom consumed, as well as find out when the mushrooms were consumed and how long after consumption symptoms appeared. Other helpful information may include whether other individuals have also eaten the same mushrooms and whether they also have symptoms of mushroom poisoning. Often, your doctor can consult a local mushroom expert.
Many times, a person can tell if a mushroom is poisonous based on how it looks. A mushroom may be poisonous if it contains warts or scales on top, or if there is a ring around the top of the stem. Bulbous stems also indicate that a mushroom may be poisonous.
While being treated for mushroom poisoning, a person will often be given activated charcoal to generate vomiting. In most cases involving mushroom poisoning, once a person vomits, they will be safe. During the treatment, the patient’s temperature, heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored. Children and the elderly may experience the most severe symptoms.
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