Mushroom Poisoning

Aka: Mushroom Poisoning

1. Epidemiology
   1. Prepared foods with toxic mushrooms is most common type of lethal exposure
2. Types
   1. Neurotoxic mushrooms
      1. Amanita muscaria and pantherina (Cholinergic Toxicity)
      2. Inocybe and Clitocybe species (parasympathetic)
      3. Coprinus atramentarius (Antabuse-like Alcohol effect)
      4. Psilcybe (Hallucinogen)
      5. Gyromitra esculenta or false morel: severe Neurotoxin
   2. Hepatotoxic mushrooms
      1. Amanita phalloides (severe hepatotoxicity)
         1. White cap and white gills
         2. Stem ascends from a cup at the base of the mushroom
         3. Stem encircled by a white skirt below the cap
   3. Nephrotoxic mushrooms
      1. Norleucine mushrooms (includes Amanita smithiana)
      2. Orellanine mushrooms
3. Management: Approach
   1. Call poison control for any suspected ingestion
      1. Consulting mycologists may be available in some regions if mushroom ingested is brought to ED
   2. Symptom presentation may be more accurate than mushroom identification
      1. Vomiting within 1-2 hours of ingesting a single mushroom
         1. Gastrointestinal irritation is more likely
         2. Intravenous hydration and Anti-emetics are typically the only management needed
      2. Vomiting with later onset may suggest hepatotoxic mushroom ingestion
         1. See Hepatotoxic mushroom ingestion
         2. Liver Transaminases (AST, ALT) are typically increased by the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms
   3. Hepatotoxic mushroom ingestion suspected
      1. Admit all patients
      2. Obtain baseline Liver Function Tests and follow serial levels
      3. First-line management
         1. N-Acetylcysteine
      4. Additional management
         1. High dose Penicillin
         2. Cimetidine
      5. Other medications used
         1. Silymarin
         2. Thioctic Acid
   4. Nephrotoxic mushrooms
      1. Present with Acute Renal Failure starting 2-5 days after ingestion (presentation may be delayed 2 weeks)
      2. May require Dialysis
         1. Renal Function returns in most cases
   5. Hallucinogenic mushooms
      1. Supportive care
      2. Resolves without residua
   6. Cholinergic mushrooms
      1. See Cholinergic Toxicity
      2. Muscarinic effects (Excessive Salivation, eye tearing, Diarrhea)
      3. Typically do not cause nicotinic effects (paralysis or Seizures)
4. References
   1. Swadron and Nordt in Majoewsky (2013) EM:Rap 13(3):2