Several children with severe fungus poisoning - pediatricians warn of the danger

Pediatricians warn against the risk of fungal poisoning in children
Within a very short time, four children were admitted to the Hannover Medical School (MHH) with fungal poisoning. Apparently they had consumed the poisonous mushrooms while playing in the garden or park. Experts warn that there are currently ideal conditions for fungal growth and therefore fungi are also found on playgrounds and in the garden.

Mushroom poisoning is not uncommon among inexperienced mushroom pickers. Heavy - at worst life-threatening - health problems are the result. Every year, experts warn about the fungus season before the health hazards of mushroom picking. At the Hannover Medical School (MHH), however, four children with fungal poisoning have now been admitted within a very short time, which is why the physicians explicitly point out the risk of poisonous mushrooms in their home garden or in public parks.

At the Hannover Medical School, four children had to be treated for fungus poisoning within one week. Paediatricians warn now explicitly against the risk. (Image: Style-Photography / fotolia.com)

Weather conditions ideal for mushrooms
What makes mushroom pickers happy can be a real danger for children. Because the hot and humid weather is currently sprouting mushrooms not only in the forest, but also in private gardens or parks. In the process, children quickly pick up a fungus and put it in their mouths, warns senior physician Dr. med. Imeke Goldschmidt of the MHH. In order to avoid unnecessary risks, "adults should have gone off the playing surface once before and removed the fungus," reports the senior physician, who is herself the mother of a small child.

Two poisonings with tuberous mushrooms
How concrete the danger is, it becomes clear that within a week four children had to be treated with a mushroom poisoning in the MHH. The team led by clinic director Professor dr. Dieter Haffner from the Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases at the MHH found a life-threatening tuber fungus poisoning in two children, one of them being a refugee from Syria. Both children are now out of danger, reports the MHH. In two other cases, smaller children would have eaten mushrooms from a lawn, but luckily the mushrooms were far less toxic.

Increased awareness of parents offered
According to Professor dr. Ulrich Baumann, Head of Gastroenterology / Hepatology at the Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases is "such a proliferation of mushroom intoxication unusual in children." Here, the experts urged increased parental awareness of the risk posed by fungi in gardens or parks offered. "We appeal to parents to look closely where their children are playing," says Prof. Baumann.

Mushroom picking is also dangerous for adults
Even inexperienced adults are, according to the experts exposed to the mushroom picking a not to be underestimated risk. For example, at the end of July gastroenterologists from the clinic of Professor dr. Michael Manns warned, because unusually many adults had poisoned on tuberous mushrooms, "says the MHH. Basically applies to mushroom pickers: "Should be after the consumption of collected mushrooms vomiting and diarrhea, must be thought of a tuber toadstool poisoning!"

In case of suspected mushroom poisoning, help should be sought as soon as possible. The first information can be, for example, the Poison Information Center North and in case of emergency, an emergency doctor is to be contacted immediately or an emergency clinic should be visited. (Fp)