Mushroom poisoning: an analysis of the data between 1996 and 2000

Abstract

One hundred and forty-three cases (89 women and 54 men) of mushroom poisoning recorded at the emergency service of Osmangazi University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, between 1996 and 2000 were evaluated. The first symptoms seen were loss of consciousness, fatigue, dizziness, severe headaches, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. The symptoms characteristically appeared suddenly. Eight patients suffering from poisoning caused by cultivated mushrooms, and four patients suffering from poisoning caused by wild mushrooms died from fulminant hepatic failure. The other patients were discharged within a period of 1-10 days. It is suggested that people should be informed of the possibility of mushroom poisoning, which has been increasing recently in Turkey.