What are the Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning? -------------------------------------------- There are many different types of **mycotoxins**. It's not suprising then, that there are different degrees and types of mushroom poisoning. The following list is not exhaustive! _Gastrointestinal Irritants_ The most frequent form of mushroom poisoning is caused by a variety of gastrointestinal irritants. A complete list of mushrooms containing such irritants is beyond the scope of this FAQ. Consult a good field guide. The symptoms usually appear within 20 minutes to 4 hours of ingesting the mushrooms, and include nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea, which normally pass after the irritant had been expelled. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Treatment is largely supportive-- helping the patient's body to eliminate what it's not equipped to handle. Recovery is complete, though a bout with severe gastro-intestinal distress may put one off ever eating mushrooms again! _Muscarine_ _Mushrooms_: Inocybe species, Clitocybe dealbata, and several relatives, Omphalatus species, and certain red-pored Boletus. The symptoms usually occur within 15-30 minutes of ingestion, and are focused on the involuntary nervous system. They include excessive salivation, sweating, tears, lactation (in pregnant women), plus severe vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms **may** be accompianied by visual disturbances, irregular pulse, decreased blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. Victims normally recover within 24 hours, but severe cases may result in death due to resperatory failure. Atropine is a specific antidote, but must be administered by a physician. _Amanitin (Amatoxins)_ _Mushrooms_: Amanita phallodies, Amanita ocreata, A. verna, A. bisporigera, Conocybe filaris, Galernia autunmalis, G. marginata G. venenata, Lepiotia castanea, L. helveola, L. josserandii & close relatives **Extremely Serious**. The fatality rate for Amanitin poisoning is about 50%. It is doubly dangerous due to the fact that the symptoms are delayed for 6 to 24 hours after ingestion, by which time the toxins have been completely absorbed by the body. Amanitins are a group of complex cyclic polypeptides which damage tissues by inhibiting RNA synthesis within each individual cell. Onset of symtoms manifests itself in four stages: First stage is a latency period of 6 to 24 hours after ingestion, in which the toxins are actively destroying the victim's kidneys and liver, but the victim experiences no discomfort. Second stage is a period of about 24 hours characterized by violent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and severe abdominal cramps. Third stage is a period of 24 hours during which the victim appears to recover (if hospitalized, the patient is sometimes released!) Fourth stage is a relapse, during which kidney and liver failure often occurs, leading to death. There may be more than one relapse. It's a very slow, painful death. **If you have any reason to suspect that someone has ingested an** **amanitin-containing mushroom, DON'T WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO** **APPEAR!** There is no antidote for amanitin poisoning, and the best hope is to rush the person to the hosptial where the toxins can be removed before being fully absorbed into the body. Treatment is largely supportive and symptomatic. _Gyromitrin_ Several Gyromitra spp., also many related Ascomycetes, such as Helvella, Verpa, Cudonia spp. Gyromitrin's product of hydrolisis is monomethylhydrazine (MMH), a colorless, volitile, highly toxic, carcinogenic compound, first discovered and used for it's ~hypergolic~ properties in combination with nitrogen tetroxide. MMH is used by NASA as rocket fuel, which should give you some idea of what is meant by "volitile". "Volitile" also means that gyromitrin has a low boiling point, and thus mushrooms containing it can have a puzzling non-effect on some, whereas others are severely poisoned. The dividing line between a "safe" and "leathal" dose is very slim. Ignore any field guide which claims that Gyromytras, Verpas, and Helvellas are safe after parboiling, as it is not certain that enough of the gyromitrin has been removed. Symptoms appear within 2 to 24 hours and include headaches, abdominal distress, severe diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, liver, kidney, and red blood cell damage may occur, possibly resulting in death. Treatment is largely supportive, and a physician should be consulted Gyromitrin is also a known carcinogen, so consuming a less than toxic dose may also cause trouble down the line. -=- Prepared by Brian McNett, Editor of MycoInfo .