More and more emergency calls for mushroom poisoning

Number of emergency calls in Poison Information Center North has been rising dramatically for weeks

09/10/2014

Mushrooms are regularly on the menu for many people. However, especially with self-collected mushrooms, special caution is advised here, because who gets to the wrong varieties, risking a mushroom poisoning with symptoms such as diarrhea, palpitations or nausea and vomiting. Apparently currently a current problem, because the number of emergency calls at the Poison Information Center North in Göttingen has been increasing dramatically for weeks.

Myceticism can be fatal in an emergency
Whether mushrooms, chanterelles or porcini mushrooms: mushrooms are delicious and healthy and are an integral part of the diet of many people. Some mushroom lovers prefer to go to the forest to collect themselves. But especially here, special caution is required, because if you get the wrong types, threatened a mushroom poisoning (mycetism). Even the smallest amounts are enough to provoke serious symptoms of intoxication such as dizziness, diarrhea and cardiovascular problems. In an emergency, such poisoning can even be fatal.

Drastic increase in emergency calls in GIZ North
Mushroom poisoning does not seem to be a rare phenomenon. On the contrary, because as the Poison Information Center North (GIZ North) in Göttingen currently reports, this summer more people have been poisoned by fungi than usual. While in other years, that for the northern states (Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein) GIZ received about 300 inquiries about possible fungal poisoning, be it the number of emergency calls in recent weeks „increased dramatically“, said the physician Andreas Schaper to the news agency „dpa“. „If it continues, it will be twice as many this time around“, predicts the expert.

High levels of mushrooms also lead tempting laymen to collecting
Responsible for the increase in emergencies is the strong mushroom growth since August, which was favored by the heat and humidity in recent months, Schaper continues. Although a high mushroom production on the one hand pleasing, but it also entail an increased risk, as laymen would also be tempted to collect: „A good fungal year is usually also a strong year of mushroom poisoning. "However, the experts at GIZ usually do not receive calls until symptoms have already appeared: „Most people call when they have already eaten the mushrooms and feel sick.“ This would be more common today, up to six times daily on many days, and even more often on others.

Tuber mushroom particularly dangerous
According to Andreas Schaper, the tuber-leaf mushroom, which is considered to be the most dangerous mushroom in Europe, but unfortunately is always confused by inexperienced collectors with edible varieties, poses a particular danger. Here a tiny piece can cause poisoning and thus symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, but in severe cases it can also lead to fatal organ damage. According to Schaper, there are already some this summer „moderate poisoning by tuberous mushrooms“ Fortunately, in comparison to other years, fortunately, no death has taken place yet.

Experts urgently warn against the consumption of mushrooms collected by themselves
If there is a suspicion of tuber toadstool poisoning, in each case inpatient treatment is indispensable. In addition, of course, poisoning symptoms that occur after eating other types of fungus, should be immediately clarified immediately by a doctor. Accordingly warns Schaper in general „urgent to collect and eat mushrooms that you do not know one hundred percent.“ Because despite all recommendations, collectors would unfortunately always act carelessly, which could be assumed, „that the poisoning season will continue for weeks ".

Tuberous toadstool occurs mostly under oaks or beech
Therefore, a closer look is immensely important: a tuber mushroom can be seen, for example, collector of his hemispherical hat, which is up to 15 inches wide and olive green or yellow-green colored, the color is usually slightly weaker at the edge. The surface of the toadstool - which occurs mostly under oaks or beech - is slightly sticky in damp weather, otherwise rather smooth and shiny, besides, it has long, white lamellae, which later turn greenish and a green or yellow, very long and cylindrically shaped Style. (No)