Toxic condition caused by the ingestion of certain species of mushrooms, especially Amanita species. Symptoms include tearing, salivation, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, and, in severe cases, liver and kidney damage, convulsions, coma, and sometimes death. Treatment depends on the species of mushroom eaten.
The UK is home to many species of toxic mushrooms and toadstools. However, many of them have a distasteful flavor, making it less likely for them to be consumed in quantities that could pose a threat.
In the UK, the majority of deadly mushroom poisonings are attributed to the AMANITA PHALLOIDES, also known as the death cap. This mushroom can be mistaken for the edible field mushroom, but it’s distinguishable by its white gills, as opposed to the pinkish-brown ones of the latter.
The death cap, along with similar species like the Amanita Virosa (known as the destroying angel), contains toxins known as amanitins. These toxins harm cells in the liver, kidneys, and small intestine. Roughly 8 to 14 hours after consuming these mushrooms, symptoms like intense abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea can arise. Later on, there might be signs of liver enlargement and jaundice, which can result in death due to liver failure. Currently, there’s no specific antidote, so treatment mainly involves providing supportive care. For those who pull through, recovery typically takes around a week.
The Amanita Muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, features a red cap speckled with white. If ingested, symptoms of poisoning can manifest between 20 minutes to two hours, which might include symptoms like fatigue, blurred vision, delirium, muscle shakes, nausea, and vomiting. To treat this type of poisoning, especially when symptoms arise quickly, gastric lavage and activated charcoal are administered. Typically, recovery happens within a day.
“Magic” mushrooms have the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin. They can also induce a high fever in children. Typically, their effects persist for around four to six hours.