Winter outbreak: Approximately 20 cases of poisoning due to eating wild mushrooms have been referred to various hospitals across the country since the beginning of December, according to data collected at the National Poison Information Center at Rambam. Among the dozens who contacted the medical centers were 11 people who required hospitalization, two of them in serious condition.
“In one of the cases treated this month, a group of foreign workers arrived who had prepared a meal from wild mushrooms they picked in nature. The patients suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhea, to the point of dehydration,” notes Dr. Yael Luria, Director of the National Poison Information Center at Rambam. In another case, family members arrived who had picked and eaten a highly toxic mushroom of the Lepiota type: “Luckily, they did not consume much of the mushroom, but the small amount they ate caused damage to the kidneys and liver,” says Dr. Luria. “All family members were treated successfully and recovered. Currently, a couple is hospitalized, suffering from poisoning due to exposure to a toxic mushroom picked in nature, and their condition is defined as serious due to kidney failure.”
With the arrival of the rainy season, every year there is an increase in the number of poisoning cases due to the consumption of wild mushrooms. Among the mushrooms that grow in the country, one can find edible mushrooms, but also highly toxic mushrooms, and there is great difficulty in distinguishing between them. “To the untrained eye, very toxic mushrooms may look very similar to edible mushrooms, which places the foraging public in real life-threatening danger,” clarifies Dr. Luria. “With the appearance of mushrooms after the rain, we see more and more poisoning cases. Different mushrooms cause damage to different body systems. Some mushrooms cause damage to the gastrointestinal system, and others may cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, or multi-system damage, all depending on the type of mushroom and the amount consumed. Identification of the mushrooms is important for making medical decisions and constitutes a significant challenge. At the Poison Control Center, we are assisted by mycologist consultants (experts in mushroom identification), who help us voluntarily in identifying the mushrooms.”
Against the background of the number of poisoning cases in the past month, the National Poison Information Center seeks to sharpen several rules of conduct regarding contact with wild mushrooms: “When going out to enjoy nature, it is recommended to enjoy its beauty, take photos, but not to pick,” explains Dr. Luria. “There are many poisonings that originate from eating a meal based on mushrooms collected in nature. In this regard, it is important to emphasize that in most cases, cooking does not destroy the toxins found in the mushroom. This year and in previous years, we have had several life-threatening cases that required prolonged hospitalization in the intensive care unit and even complex treatments such as dialysis and ECMO.
Children are also exposed to mushrooms during this season, and we know that toddlers tend to put everything in their mouths and taste. Therefore, when going out to the garden or nature, children should be explained that plants or mushrooms should not be put in the mouth, and they should be closely supervised.
In addition to the health risk, there is also an environmental aspect of nature conservation. Mushrooms have an important role in the ecological balance, and uncontrolled picking harms the diversity of species. If you still crave mushrooms in soup or a dish, do so only with cultivated mushrooms that can be purchased today at the supermarket,” she concludes.
In the event of poisoning or suspected poisoning, one can contact the National Poison Information Center by phone: 04-7771900