Leader in mushroom poisoning is Bavaria

In Bavaria occur the most mushroom poisoning in the national comparison of the health insurance DAK

13/09/2013

Most mushroom poisonings were reported in Bavaria last year. This resulted in a statistical evaluation of the health insurance DAK-health. According to this study, 43 percent of the patients with severe fungal poisoning who had to be hospitalized in hospital came from Bavaria. Second place went to Baden-Württemberg with 17 percent of those affected nationwide.

To prevent fungus poisoning do not eat mushrooms with the slightest uncertainty
Although the number of fungal poisonings fell by around a quarter on average, in Bavaria it rose by 13 percent. „We assume that there is a large population group in Bavaria, which traditionally likes mushroom picking“, explains Claus Uebel of the DAK to the news agency „dpa“. „Due to the forest areas, there are also more opportunities than in other states to find mushrooms.“

DAK doctor Elisabeth Thomas advises to be careful when collecting mushrooms. „The better the mushroom season, the more poisonings there are“, explains the expert. „Therefore, be careful in the search.“ Even with the slightest uncertainty mushroom friends should rather refrain from eating the mushroom. You could also go to a counseling center and get information. Those who only obtained information on mushrooms in books or on the Internet have insufficient knowledge to distinguish on-site edible from poisonous mushrooms. It's the experience. „Many edible mushrooms have dangerous doppelgangers“, says Thomas. As an example, the expert calls the poisonous tuberous mushroom, which looks like a harmless mushroom.

High number of mushroom poisonings in Bavaria is confirmed also by poison emergency center
The evaluation of the poison control center Munich also supports the results of the DAK investigation. Here, almost 280 fungal poisonings were reported by telephone, which corresponds to an increase of almost 130 percent compared to the previous year. Florian Eyer of the clinical Toxologie of the Klinikum rechts der Isar sees, among other things, a new generation of collectors as a cause for the significant increase in fungal poisoning. „It is a trend that totally foolish people are on the way to collecting, then at home on the Internet to see if the mushrooms are edible“, the expert explains to the news agency.

Call the doctor at the first sign of fungal poisoning
The first signs of fungal poisoning include nausea, diarrhea or abdominal pain as the DAK informs. If such symptoms were shown after a mushroom meal, the emergency doctor should be called immediately. „Never take medication on your own“, explains Thomas. „Stay calm, drink a lot, preferably water, and bring the person affected in unconsciousness in the stable side position.“ It would also be useful to pick up mushroom residues - if possible - and show them to the doctor. (Ag)

Picture: Sabine lot