Is it possible to get poisoned with mushrooms: symptoms and signs

It is quite difficult to get poisoned by mushrooms, but it is quite possible. Mushroom lovers need to know the main symptoms of poisoning and emergency measures in cases where trouble has occurred.

Is it possible to get poisoned by redheads

Most varieties of mushrooms belong to the category of uniquely edible mushrooms, which do not even require long processing before cooking. In addition, mushrooms have a very recognizable appearance – they are difficult to confuse with poisonous mushrooms. Therefore, it is generally accepted that it is impossible to get poisoned by mushrooms.

Such an opinion is erroneous. Absolutely any mushroom can cause food poisoning, mushrooms are no exception. Usually poisoning occurs for the following reasons.

• Mushrooms were stale, rotten and too old – spoiled mushrooms naturally cause poisoning, since putrefactive processes occur in their pulp even at the harvesting stage.
• Fungi were collected in an ecologically unfavorable area. Mushroom pulp very quickly and actively accumulates toxic substances that come with air and precipitation. If you pick mushrooms near roads or railways, large cities and industrial enterprises, the risk of poisoning increases significantly.
• Mushrooms were not properly salted. If you salt or pickle mushrooms with violations of traditional technologies, then after a while the mushrooms in the jar will simply deteriorate, and, accordingly, their use will cause severe poisoning.
• Mushrooms were boiled in a galvanized pan or bucket, mushrooms can only be processed in enameled dishes, galvanized iron reacts chemically with mushrooms, and the mushroom pulp accumulates harmful compounds.
• The mushrooms were not picked by hand, but bought from an unverified merchant in the market, in such a situation it is very difficult to check the quality and freshness of the fungi. If the product is bought already pickled or salted, then it is almost impossible to be sure that under the guise of mushrooms the seller did not offer completely different mushrooms.

Another common cause of mushroom poisoning is picking errors. Mushroom mushrooms do not have poisonous twins, but they have a strong resemblance to conditionally edible fungi.

• The mushroom is often confused with the pink wave. This fungus is good for food, but first it needs to be soaked for a long time, and then boiled thoroughly. If you mistakenly process a wave in the same way as a camelina, that is, simply boil, pickle or fry without soaking, then the matter will end in severe poisoning.
• You can also confuse saffron milk with amber milky. The fungus is not poisonous, but its smell and taste are sharp and bitter. Milky, in principle, is not customary to eat, usually, even after a long processing, it is used only as a spicy seasoning.

How long does it take for the symptoms of mushroom poisoning to appear?

When using low-quality fungi, the first signs of poisoning may appear at different intervals. The period depends on many factors, namely:

• on the amount of mushrooms eaten;
• on the degree of their toxicity;
• on the state of the body and the presence or absence of chronic diseases;
• on the age and weight of the person who ate low-quality mushrooms.

On average, the symptoms of poisoning become noticeable in the period from half an hour to 6 hours after eating mushrooms. As a rule, the sooner the poisoning occurs, the stronger it is and, accordingly, requires drastic measures.

Symptoms and signs of saffron mushroom poisoning

If the deterioration occurred on the same day that the mushrooms were eaten, there is no doubt that it was fresh or cooked mushrooms that were to blame for the poisoning. In mild cases of poisoning, symptoms usually appear as follows:

• pain and cramps in the abdomen;
• nausea and increased gas formation;
• diarrhea;
• mild fever and palpitations.

Severe poisoning is accompanied by the same symptoms, but more serious symptoms can also join them, namely:

• severe sweating and severe tachycardia;
• heat;
• diarrhea with traces of blood;
• dizziness and blurred vision;
• general muscle weakness and confusion.

Poisoning with pickled or salted mushrooms is especially dangerous. If at least one poorly processed mushroom got into a jar of canned food, then pathogenic bacteria will surely multiply in the pickles. You can get poisoned with salted mushrooms up to complications in the heart, kidneys and liver, in the absence of emergency assistance, these organs may fail.

First aid for mushroom poisoning

Camelina mushrooms are uniquely edible mushrooms and do not contain toxic substances themselves. But the consequences of poisoning with spoiled or improperly preserved mushrooms can be very serious. Therefore, it is imperative to seek medical help in case of poisoning, competent treatment will help to avoid future complications and long-term consequences.

But at the first sign of poisoning, assistance to the injured person must be provided even before the arrival of doctors. Measures are usually taken as follows.

• Urgently wash the stomach, especially if the fungi have been eaten recently. To remove them from the body, you need to drink at least 5 glasses of pure water one after another, and then artificially induce vomiting. If necessary, the procedure is repeated until the stomach is completely empty.
• Cleanse the intestines. To quickly remove toxic substances from the body, you need to take a powerful laxative with the shortest possible duration of action. An even more effective way is to use a cleansing enema.
• Give the victim as much water or sweetened black tea as possible. Drinking plenty of water provokes urination and helps to quickly remove toxic substances from the body.
• Lay the patient in a horizontal position and provide him with complete rest until the arrival of doctors. After poisoning with fungi, in no case should you do household chores, go to work or go for a walk, deterioration can occur at any time.

If poisoning with mushrooms is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, it is strictly forbidden to take pharmaceutical preparations that stop nausea and diarrhea. The fact is that the body in this case will not be able to get rid of toxic substances, they will remain in the tissues and internal organs and continue their destructive work. Thus, the poisoning will become more severe, and the consequences can be much more serious.

Prevention of poisoning

Few people can resist the temptation to eat juicy and tasty mushrooms. But you must always remember that the product poses an increased danger, and that it is easier to prevent poisoning than to treat its consequences.

To make the use of mushrooms safe, following a few rules will help:

• You need to pick mushrooms only in clean forests, located far from railways and roads, factories, large cities and garbage dumps.
• When harvesting, preference should be given to young mushrooms. It is they who have the most juicy and healthy pulp and are not yet affected by insects, it is better not to touch old overgrown mushrooms, they are not only less tasty, but also dangerous.
• Before cutting a mushroom, you need to carefully examine it and make sure that it is an edible camelina mushroom; if there is any doubt, it is better not to touch the mushroom.
• After harvesting, the mushrooms must be thoroughly cleaned of adhering debris and rinsed in cold water – any missed dirt can lead to poisoning.
• Fresh mushrooms should not be stored for too long – they must be processed within the first 12 hours after harvest, otherwise the mushrooms will begin to deteriorate.

When salting and pickling saffron mushrooms, it is allowed to use only enameled and glassware; salting saffron milk caps in galvanized pots and bowls is strictly prohibited. Salting must be carried out in accordance with all the rules, using clean sterile jars for canning, and the blanks must be stored in dark places with a temperature not exceeding 15 ° C.

If a lid is swollen on a closed jar of canned mushrooms, then in no case should you eat fungi – this indicates that putrefactive processes are taking place inside. Purchased mushrooms should be purchased in trusted stores, it is not recommended to take them on the market and from hands, without certification.

Conclusion

Poisoning mushrooms is quite real, and sometimes this can lead to serious consequences. If poisoning has occurred, you must immediately take measures to remove toxins from the body and call a doctor, even if the symptoms do not seem too dangerous.