How to provide first aid for mushroom poisoning

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Death caps and fly agarics aren’t the only ones that can cause problems. Edible mushrooms can also be dangerous in some situations. We’ll tell you what symptoms to look for to sound the alarm and how to provide first aid in case of poisoning. 

How does mushroom poisoning manifest itself?

Symptoms of intoxication at the start sometimes seem insignificant, but letting things slide or trying to solve the problem with improvised means is dangerous. Mushroom poisoning can have serious delayed symptoms that can appear after a few days. As a result, internal organs, in particular the liver and kidneys , can suffer . For example, this happens with death cap poisoning. 

Therefore, if any of the symptoms listed below occur after eating mushrooms, you should immediately seek medical help – call 103 or 112. 

Possible symptoms of mushroom poisoning:

  • weakness;
  • stomach ache;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • diarrhea;
  • confusion;
  • visual or auditory hallucinations;
  • muscle spasms;
  • convulsions;
  • increased tearing and salivation;
  • constriction of the pupils; 
  • heart rhythm disturbance;
  • decrease or increase in body temperature. 

While the doctor is on his way, it is better not to remain idle, but to try to help yourself or a loved one.  

How to provide first aid to yourself or others 

Clear your mouth 

For this task, the most ordinary water will do . Rinse your mouth with it and spit it out. 

But forcibly clearing the stomach in case of mushroom poisoning, if vomiting does not occur on its own, is not worth it for several reasons: 

  • Vomit can accidentally get into the respiratory tract and then into the lungs – there is a risk of injury to them. The likelihood of this is especially high if a person has dizziness, hallucinations or confusion. 
  • If toxic substances pass through the esophagus a second time, the toxins may be absorbed more actively. This means that the body’s reaction will be stronger.
  • It is difficult to stop vomiting – it is unlikely that you will be able to limit yourself to a single emptying of the stomach. Because of this, the body will lose fluid – dehydration may occur. 

Give a drink 

This is especially important if there was natural vomiting or diarrhea: during such processes, the body loses moisture. It is recommended to drink regular water or strong black tea, the main thing is cold. Also, after emptying the intestines, you can use solutions with salt – they will help restore the water-salt balance. You cannot drink alcohol, carbonated drinks and juices – all of them can irritate the stomach. And during poisoning, it is already in an uneasy state.  

Rospotrebnadzor specialists also say that when providing first aid for mushroom poisoning, enterosorbents can be used – drugs that collect toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and remove them from the body. But antidiarrheal and antiemetic drugs should not be used. Natural emptying of the stomach is the body’s attempt to get rid of the culprit of the poisoning as quickly as possible. Interfering with it with drugs can be dangerous.

Provide peace

For example, put on a bed or sofa. Among the symptoms of mushroom poisoning are those that can interfere with maintaining a stable standing position, in particular confusion and hallucinations. And they may not appear immediately – it is better to meet them when you are already at rest.  

Important: When symptoms include nausea and vomiting, it is worth turning the victim’s head to the side so that the airways are not blocked and the person does not choke.

How to avoid mushroom poisoning 

Even edible mushrooms are quite a complex product. Due to the high chitin content, they are difficult to digest, so they are not recommended for people with gastrointestinal diseases.  

Of course, it is not necessary to exclude champignons, milk mushrooms and chanterelles from your diet. But it is better to treat mushrooms with special caution. You need to buy them only in trusted places and observe the storage conditions. Mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator : fresh ones – in a container that lets air through, cooked ones – in an airtight container. 

Don’t delay eating: whole purchased mushrooms can be stored for up to two weeks, sliced ​​or cooked – up to a week. If the taste of cooked mushrooms has changed, and fresh ones have slime, you should throw the product away immediately. 

If you pick mushrooms yourself, it is important to follow safety rules:

  • avoid unknown mushrooms; 
  • do not cut mushrooms near roads and factories;
  • do not try the collected mushrooms on the spot – even small pieces;
  • place them in wicker baskets – this way the mushrooms will stay fresh longer;
  • Upon arrival home, lay out and carefully examine the flesh of each mushroom – throw out any wormy, rotten or flabby ones; 
  • wash all mushrooms thoroughly;
  • cook immediately – washed mushrooms should not be stored for more than one day.

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