Severe Mushroom Poisoning in One Macedonian Family

Abstract

Despite modern therapy, poisoning due to ingestion of Amanita mushrooms is a serious clinical and health problem that may even be potentially lethal. The most efficient way for the general public to protect itself against potential poisoning is to avoid ingesting mushrooms that may not be edible.

Mushroom intoxication, a fatal condition in Romanian children

“…Thus, the first stage is defined by a latent period (6–40 hours) with no apparent symptoms, whereas the second stage is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or loose stools. [17] In the third stage, the patient experiences an apparent improvement of clinical symptoms contrasting with the severe deterioration of laboratory parameters. [17] The last stage of this intoxication is characterized by the association between acute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, impairment of coagulation status, acute renal failure, and hypoglycemia.…”

“…[17] In the third stage, the patient experiences an apparent improvement of clinical symptoms contrasting with the severe deterioration of laboratory parameters. [17] The last stage of this intoxication is characterized by the association between acute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, impairment of coagulation status, acute renal failure, and hypoglycemia. [17] Both our cases expressed this pattern of mushroom intoxication.…”

“…[17] The last stage of this intoxication is characterized by the association between acute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, impairment of coagulation status, acute renal failure, and hypoglycemia. [17] Both our cases expressed this pattern of mushroom intoxication. The impairment of coagulations test may result in different types of hemorrhage.…”

“…Most often, this hepatotoxin is an amatoxin resulting in severe hepatic cytolysis, being responsible in 90% of the cases for the fatal outcome of these patients. [17] Thus, every year up to 100 fatalities due to mushroom poisoning are reported worldwide, and most of them are caused by acute liver failure. [18]…”

“…Multiple therapeutic approaches have been used in severe cases of wild mushroom poisoning, such as plasmapheresis; the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) and different antidotes reported as useful, such as silibin, penicillin G, N-acetylcysteine, or high doses of ascorbic acid. [17] Despite all these therapeutic attempts, the occurrence of acute liver and renal failure leads eventually to a fatal outcome in these patients, most-likely due to Amanita poisoning.…”