Poisonous mushroom poisoning

Among all the species of fungi there are about a hundred toxic and fortunately only a dozen are lethal. Mushroom poisoning can be at:

• SLOW ONCE
• FAST ONCE (about 3 hours after ingestion)

In general, the symptoms of mushroom poisoning can affect the gastrointestinal system and the nervous system, with the presence of tremors and convulsions. The therapy to treat mushroom poisoning involves the administration of antidiarrheal and antiemetics in the case of gastrointestinal effects, or of benzodiazepines in the case of neurological symptoms.

The main fungal species involved in rapid onset poisoning are the "Amanita Muscaria or malefic egg e the "Amanita Panterina or brown moth. Instead, an example of a very toxic mushroom, but with a slow onset of symptoms, is given by"Amanita Phalloides or greenish moth; it is in fact sufficient to ingest half of the cap of this mushroom to have gastric and neurological effects, up to death. The effects caused by the "Amanita Phalloides arise even after 24-48 hours from its ingestion. This mushroom contains a mix of toxic substances that belong to different families and that have different mechanisms of action. These dangerous and lethal substances are:

• AMATOXINS: they are present in low concentrations, they can be reabsorbed in the intestine and inhibit RNA polymerase II, with consequent inhibition of mRNA and protein synthesis;
• PHALLOTOXINS: produce severe liver and neurological damage (encephalopathy);
• VIROTOXINS: they have more or less the same effect as the previous ones.

Other articles on "Poisonous Mushroom Poisoning"

1. Toxins in food
2. Toxicity and toxicology
3. Bacterial poisoning