Your child has eaten an unknown mushroom. Is it dangerous? What intervention do you need to take?
Accidents involving children and unknown mushrooms
Unknown mushroom? Poisonous mushroom? Foto: Tox Info Suisse
Important! If you suspect the mushroom contains amatoxins
- Treatment with an antidote must be initiated rapidly.
- This also applies even if the child is not showing any symptoms yet.
Is it a highly toxic mushroom with amatoxin?
The top priority with an unknown mushroom is to identify the mushroom and exclude a possible amatoxin poisoning. Poisoning with amatoxin (poison of the green death cap mushroom) can cause severe damage to the liver. Other mushrooms usually only cause mild symptoms. These can often be treated at home and medical treatment is rarely necessary.
What should you do in an emergency?
After swallowing a mushroom or piece of mushroom < 1 cm²
- The quantity of the toxin potentially consumed causes mild symptoms in the worst-case scenario.
- Even in the case of a mushroom containing amatoxin (e.g. death cap), it will not cause liver damage.
After swallowing a mushroom or piece of mushroom > 1 cm²
(or multiple small mushrooms, which are > 1 cm² in total)
- Contact Tox Info Suisse!
- As quickly as possible: Exclude the possibility of having eaten a mushroom containing amatoxin by consulting an emergency mushroom specialist (mycologist)!
You can find a list of emergency mushroom specialists at this link or vapko.ch (as of 29.10.2024).
Vapko → Pilzvergiftung → Click on "Wo finde ich Notfallpilzexperten" → List of contact addresses for mushroom poisoning is called up - If the mushroom concerned contains or is suspected to contain amatoxin, you must seek urgent treatment at a hospital (treatment with antidote).
In the event of delayed mushroom identification:
Give the child liquid activated charcoal to bind the toxin within 1 – 2 hours (dose: 1 g/kg body weight). Only in consultation with a doctor or Tox Info Suisse.
Several species of poisonous mushrooms and possible symptoms
Amatoxin poisoning (“death cap poisoning”):
- Mushrooms containing amatoxin:
Death cap (Amanita phalloides and other Amanita species), poisonous parasols (Lepiota species), poisonous Galerina species (grow in woodland including wood chip!)
- Symptoms:
Severe diarrhoea with vomiting 6 – 24 hours after eating the mushroom, followed by subsequent liver and kidney failure. Left untreated or if treatment is delayed, the outcome could be fatal. Treatment with the antidote should ideally be started before symptoms begin.
Psilocybin syndrome (“magic mushrooms”):
- Psilocybin mushrooms:
Several dung-loving fungi (Panaeolus species) - Symptoms:
Tiredness, dizziness, hallucinations, state of intoxication, large pupils with a latency of 15 – 120 min.
Muscarinic syndrome:
- Muscarinic mushrooms:
Torn fibrecap (Inocybe species) - Symptoms:
Sweating, dizziness, slow pulse, narrow pupils with a latency of 15 – 120 min.
Other inedible mushrooms:
- Symptoms: Generally rapid onset of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Weitere Informationen
Swiss association of official mushroom control bodies (VAPKO)
- Vapko only lists specially trained emergency mushroom experts on its website vapko.ch.
- On vapko.ch you will find mushroom control authorities as well as useful information about mushrooms and mushroom foraging tips.
- Get your foraged mushrooms checked!
Additional articles about mushrooms by Tox Info Suisse
Edible mushrooms: unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms.
Did you know that you shouldn’t store the mushrooms you’ve collected in plastic bags?
Gilled or boletus mushrooms?
If you suspect mushroom poisoning after consuming unchecked mushrooms you have foraged or accidental consumption, it is important to know whether the mushrooms are gilled mushrooms or boletes.
Syndroms of mushroom poisoning
Summary of the 12 major mushroom poisoning syndroms.
Updated October 2024