Edible mushroom-related poisoning: A study on circumstances of mushroom collection, transport, and storage.
BACKGROUND
The American Association of Poison Control Center (AAPCC) shows that in 2012 there were 0.3% of human exposures involving mushrooms. Only 17% of 6600 cases were then identified by the species. The present retrospective study was designed to identify the epidemiology of mushroom poisoning in adults admitted to Krakow's Department of Clinical Toxicology (DCT) from 2002 to 2009.


METHODS
This study was conducted retrospectively after examining the files of 457 adult patients with wild mushroom poisoning. Mycological analysis was made and the species of the poisoning-inducing mushroom was determined. Furthermore, the circumstances related to the mushroom gathering, transport, storage, preparation, and consumption have been analyzed.


RESULTS
The analysis revealed that in 400 (87.53%) out of 457 cases, the clinical symptoms were caused by ingestion of identified edible mushroom species. The main reason for edible mushroom poisoning is associated with their incorrect processing after harvest. The analysis of the circumstances of mushroom collection, transport, and storage shows that the largest percentage of poisoning was connected with long-term storage of mushroom dishes, collecting, and storing them in plastic bags, and long storage of mushrooms.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on spore analysis of the gastric content, edible mushrooms were responsible for the great majority of mushroom poisoning cases admitted to the DCT. The toxicity of edible mushroom is associated with proceeding with them during collection, transport, and storage. The medical history should be supplemented by questions concerning these circumstances. The identification of the mushroom by a mycologist is highly desirable.
Department of Clinical Toxicology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland togawlik@gmail.com.
T
T
Gawlikowski
Department of Cytology and Histology, Institute of Zoology Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
M
M
Romek
Department of Physiology and Reproduction of Animals, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland.
L
L
Satora
D000328:Adult; D000363:Agaricales; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009145:Mushroom Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Edible mushroom poisoning; epidemiology; mycologist