What is Mushroom Toxicity?
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that usually has a stem and a cap with gills underneath. However, the term ‘mushroom’ can also refer to other types of fungus without a stem, such as “morels,” “puffballs,” or “stinkhorns.” The gills on a mushroom help it to reproduce by producing spores, or tiny particles that can grow into new mushrooms.
People have been eating mushrooms for thousands of years. However, some mushrooms are toxic and can cause harm if eaten, and this has been known since ancient times. For example, it is believed that the Roman Emperor Claudius died from mushroom poisoning. Nowadays, many mushrooms are grown on farms, but picking wild mushrooms as a hobby is becoming more popular.
Mushroom poisonings can occur when people mistakenly identify a poisonous type of mushroom as safe to eat. However, sometimes people eat toxic mushrooms on purpose. The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can vary widely, from just feeling generally unwell, to severe problems including liver or kidney failure, or problems with the nervous system. The specific symptoms depend on which type of mushroom was eaten, what toxins it had, and how much was consumed. There are up to 14 different types of symptoms, known as syndromes, that can occur from mushroom poisoning.
What Causes Mushroom Toxicity?
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning are connected to the specific poison that has been consumed. These can include amatoxin, psilocybin, muscarine, coprine, allenic norleucine, gyromitrin, among others.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Mushroom Toxicity
Out of the many different types of mushrooms, only about 100 are poisonous. Every year in the United States, there are around 6000 cases of people eating these harmful mushrooms. Over half of these cases involve children under the age of six. Most often, eating a small quantity of toxic mushroom results in symptoms like an upset stomach. However, in severe cases where people mistakenly eat toxic mushrooms while foraging for food, more serious types of poisoning can occur.
- Only about 100 out of the many mushroom species are harmful when eaten.
- Each year in the United States, around 6000 people ingest these toxic mushrooms.
- Most of these poisonings involve children under the age of six.
- Gastrointestinal upset, or stomach issues, are the most common symptoms.
- These symptoms typically occur after eating a small amount of a toxic mushroom.
- Severe poisoning cases usually happen when adults misidentify and eat toxic mushrooms while foraging for food.
Signs and Symptoms of Mushroom Toxicity
If you think you’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom, there’s some key information that you should tell your local poison control center:
- A detail description of the mushroom (including its color, texture, how the cap looks – like is it smooth, small, large, or looks like a brain)
- How much of the mushroom you ate
- If you’ve consumed any alcohol along with the mushroom (this is mainly for cases of eating a Coprinus mushroom)
- When did you start feeling unwell after eating the mushroom. Please note, if you’ve consumed different types of mushrooms, some might cause immediate sickness while others cause illness much later.
- Where and when the mushroom was collected. This is important because some mushrooms can be preserved and eaten later
- If there are other people who ate the same mushrooms and if they’re feeling sick too
During the doctor’s examination, they are going to be checking for certain unusual signs. These vary depending on what mushroom has been eaten and can include:
- Signs of dehydration due to stomach and intestinal inflammation
- Symptoms of cholinergic toxicity (which is caused by certain dangerous substances)
- Problems with liver function
- Signs of an allergic reaction that’s affecting the whole body
Testing for Mushroom Toxicity
If you’re feeling unwell and your doctor is trying to figure out what’s wrong, they might do a few different tests. These tests depend on your symptoms, and some patients who seem to be at low risk might not need any testing at all. However, common tests that your doctor might order include: blood tests to measure your electrolyte levels and how your kidneys are working, a urinalysis or urine test, a test that checks for a protein called CK in your blood, tests to evaluate how well your liver is functioning, blood clotting tests, and a complete blood count which checks for certain types of cells in your blood.
In more severe cases, your doctor may need to do additional tests. These might be necessary if there are symptoms that suggest problems with your liver, confused thinking or an unusually low level of awareness (also known as an altered mental state), low oxygen levels, or breathing problems.
Treatment Options for Mushroom Toxicity
If you experience various symptoms due to something you’ve ingested, your treatment will mainly involve supportive care. This means the doctors will treat your symptoms and make sure your body has the things it needs to recover.
In certain cases, when the substance was swallowed recently, activated charcoal might be used. This substance can bind to the harmful substance in your stomach and help your body get rid of it.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like an upset stomach or vomiting, rehydration (refilling your body’s supply of water and electrolytes) can help. Medications to stop nausea and vomiting can also be used, as well as treatments to balance out your electrolytes, which are necessary for many of your body’s functions.
For patients experiencing negative hallucinations, a type of medication called benzodiazepines may be given. These medications can help to reduce anxiety. Additionally, if someone is showing signs of cholinergic toxicity, which is a certain kind of poisoning that affects nerve cells, medications like glycopyrrolate or atropine might be used.
Depending on what was ingested, other specific treatments might be needed. For example, if a certain type of mushroom (gyromitra) was eaten and the patient is having seizures that aren’t controlled by other medications, they might be given a medication called pyridoxine, or vitamin B6. This medication helps keep the brain and nerves healthy. Additional benzodiazepines might also be used in these cases.
Another substance, called amatoxin, might require medications like N-acetylcysteine (also known as NAC), silibinin, and penicillin.
Remember, it’s important that healthcare providers work closely with local poison control centers or experts in medical poisoning (toxicologists) to make sure patients get the most effective treatment.
What else can Mushroom Toxicity be?
There are several other conditions and situations that can mimic the symptoms of a certain illness. These include:
- Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
- Foodborne toxin exposure
- Acute viral hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- Acetaminophen overdose or toxicity
- Ischemic hepatitis (lack of blood flow to the liver)
- Alcoholic hepatitis (liver disease caused by drinking alcohol)
- Isoniazid toxicity (a side effect of a drug used for seizures)
- Organophosphate toxicity (poisoning from certain pesticides or nerve gases)
- Carbamate toxicity (poisoning from certain types of insecticides)
What to expect with Mushroom Toxicity
Eating certain types of mushrooms can cause stomach issues, but most people will recover without problems as long as they receive appropriate care.
For instance, a study found that after eating Cortinarius mushrooms, 68% of people showed signs of kidney damage. More than half needed a type of treatment called hemodialysis (a procedure to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so), and 11% ended up with a condition called end-stage renal failure, where the kidneys have almost stopped working completely. Out of 90 people in the study, 12 ended up needing a kidney transplant.
On a brighter note, the majority of people who ate Gyromitra mushrooms got better within a week. Medical professionals managed their seizures and provided care. However, a study from Eastern Europe found a 10% chance of death.
A review showed that after eating Amanita mushrooms, 2% of people needed a liver transplant. But individuals with mild liver toxicity usually recover.
Patients with mild anticholinergic toxicity, which is poisoning due to certain drugs or substances, usually get better. However, there have been reports of side-effects such as slow heart rate, shock, and even death in severe cases.
Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Mushroom Toxicity
The possible negative effects of swallowing a harmful substance may vary greatly, depending on what was consumed. The problems could be as minor as dehydration for mild cases, or as severe as kidney or liver failure, and even lead to fatality in extreme cases.
- Dehydration for mild toxicity
- Kidney failure in severe cases
- Liver failure in severe cases
- Potential death in extreme cases
Preventing Mushroom Toxicity
Most cases of mushroom poisoning lead to mild to moderate stomach problems, including feelings of nausea, throwing up, and diarrhea. However, in some cases, it can lead to severe issues such as failure of essential body organs and even death. Those who pick wild mushrooms for fun or diet need to be well aware of the many different kinds of mushrooms and their similar-looking, potentially harmful counterparts. This knowledge is particularly crucial for those new to the activity.
Learning about local edible and poisonous mushrooms is extremely important for amateur mushroom pickers. Even mild feelings of nausea need to be taken seriously, as they could be the initial sign of a severe sickness.
