title: Fatal mushroom poisoning caused by Amanita virosa in Thailand.
abstract: Consumption of toxic mushrooms belonging to the genus Amanita frequently leads to severe gastrointestinal distress followed by acute hepatic failure with a fatal outcome. In Thailand, valuable information as to the locally prevalent poisonous species, the preferred habitat and the management of suspected victims of intoxication is basically non-existent. We report here 5 cases of fatal poisoning with Amanita virosa having occurred in a family residing in the northeast of Thailand who as countless others had enjoyed mushroom gathering as a pasttime. Within 4 to 6 days after ingestion of the mushrooms, all had succumbed to acute hepatic failure with subsequent hepatoencephalopathy. Treatment modalities exist in the form of penicillin and silibinin, or thioctic acid administration followed by plasmapheresis. In cases taking a lethal course apparent from the results of liver biochemistry, liver transplantation is clearly indicated. In order to prevent mushroom poisoning altogether, educating the general population to that end certainly presents the method of choice.
authors.affiliation: Udon Thani Hospital, Thailand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaiear
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Limpaiboon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meechai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000545:Amanita; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006266:Health Education; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009145:Mushroom Poisoning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013785:Thailand; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D020011:Protective Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D008063:Thioctic Acid