Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can be very different. It is not always that patients have only digestive disorders, because the toxins contained in these products can affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Due to the fact that such situations are considered very common, many people are looking for additional information. What can be the symptoms and signs of mushroom poisoning? After how many hours do the first “bells” appear? How to help a person in a similar situation? What treatment methods does medicine offer? What are the effects of poisoning? The answers to these questions are important.
Why does poisoning occur?
Poisoning is the result of eating poisonous mushrooms. Symptoms and disorders of various organ systems are associated with the fact that dangerous toxins that are contained in these products (muscarine, psilocybin, beocystine, phallocin) enter the body.
Improperly prepared foods also pose a potential threat. For example, poisoning with salted mushrooms is quite possible. Symptoms in this case may be less pronounced, but help is still required. It is worth remembering that these forest products can be stored raw for no longer than 18-24 hours (in the refrigerator). After this time, the mushrooms begin to rot, resulting in the formation of toxins, even when it comes to edible products.
It is worth noting that the mushroom is a kind of sponge - hazardous substances from soil, water and air (for example, salts of heavy metals) accumulate in its body. That is why you should not collect them near railways, factories, chemical industries.
Mushroom poisoning: after how many symptoms appear?
This is a fairly popular product that appears from time to time in every kitchen. And unfortunately, not every housewife can distinguish edible raw materials from potentially dangerous ones. What are the first symptoms and signs of mushroom poisoning? How long after the first violations appear?
In fact, it all depends on the type of toxin and the amount of mushrooms eaten. For example, after a pale toadstool enters the human digestive system, the first signs appear after 5-6 hours, and after fly agarics after 60 minutes. In any case, if poisoning occurs, it will manifest itself in the next 12 hours.
Mushroom poisoning: symptoms and signs
In the first few hours, a person can feel quite normal. But as toxins spread throughout the body, the clinical picture takes on very characteristic features. What disorders can be observed with mushroom poisoning? Symptoms and signs in this case are diverse:
- First of all, as a rule, digestive disorders are observed. For poisoning, severe nausea and vomiting are characteristic. Vomit often acquires the consistency and color of coffee grounds. Symptoms include cramping abdominal pain. Frequent loose stools are observed - bowel movement sometimes occurs 20-25 times a day. In feces, you can notice impurities of blood.
- Toxins contained in mushrooms often affect the nervous system. For example, after eating fly agaric, motor agitation and hallucinations are often observed. The list of symptoms also includes lethargy, inexplicable anxiety, fainting.
- Perhaps the defeat of the circulatory system, which is accompanied by increased heart rate, a sharp decrease in blood pressure.
- Often there are symptoms indicating damage to the kidneys and liver. Some patients report a decrease in urine. Perhaps the development of hepatic and renal failure.
Pale Toad Poisoning
As already mentioned, the clinical picture largely depends on the type of toxin received in the body. Pale grebe is by far one of the most dangerous mushrooms. The poison contained in it does not decompose during heat treatment and is insensitive to acids, so the product retains its properties even after preservation. According to studies, 30 mg of poison is enough to kill a person.
The first symptoms of poisoning are severe headaches, a sharp deterioration in vision. Then there is severe, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain. Patients complain of weakness, increased thirst. Perhaps the appearance of seizures, the disappearance of the voice. Abrupt dehydration leads to a cessation of urine output. Human skin becomes covered with sticky sweat, limbs become cold, body temperature drops to 35 degrees. The pulse is hard to feel, cyanosis of the skin appears.
2-3 days after eating mushrooms, kidney and liver failure develops. Poisoning often ends in a coma. The mortality rate is high - 90%.
Eating Amanita: Signs of Poisoning
Amanita contains various hazardous substances, including fly poison, mycoatropin, muscarin.
Symptoms of poisoning with this type of mushroom appear quickly - after 30-90 minutes. At first, abdominal pain can be observed, though not as intense as after eating a pale toadstool. The list of symptoms also includes severe diarrhea, profuse vomiting. Perhaps increased sweating, significant narrowing of the pupils, salivation.
Toxins contained in the fly agaric affect the nervous system. There is a sharp drop in blood pressure, activation of secretion in the bronchi, breathing problems. Excitement is replaced by dizziness, a feeling of depression, delirium, hallucinations, inexplicable attacks of aggression. If timely assistance is not provided to the patient, a coma is possible
It is worth noting that more often children, elderly people, patients with a weak heart and kidney diseases die from such poisoning.
Stitching
These small mushrooms with winding caps, brittle pulp and a pleasant smell are the source of many poisons, including gelwellic acid and some neurotoxins.
The first signs appear after about 6-10 hours. Patients suffer from severe nausea, a general deterioration in well-being, and abdominal pain. As the toxins spread, indomitable vomiting and severe headache appear. Some people also suffer from frequent stools.
In severe poisoning, the patient develops jaundice of varying severity. The volume of the liver increases, palpation in the right hypochondrium is accompanied by pain. Gelvell acid has hemolytic properties - it destroys red blood cells, resulting in anemia. If untreated, poisoning can result in the development of cardiovascular failure.
Edible mushroom poisoning: features of the clinical picture
If we are talking about eating false honey mushrooms, false blackberries and other mushrooms with burning milky juice, then the symptoms of poisoning are not so pronounced. People suffer from cutting abdominal pain. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting appear. Perhaps the appearance of weakness, drowsiness.
It is worth noting that poisoning with these types of mushrooms is not so dangerous. As a rule, symptoms disappear on their own after 1-2 days. Nevertheless, you still need to see a doctor - you can not risk health.
First aid
You already know what the symptoms of mushroom poisoning may be, after how long they make themselves felt. If you suspect an intoxication of the body or when the first signs appear, you need to urgently call a doctor. In no case should you ignore the symptoms. As food is digested, more and more toxins enter the bloodstream.
Something you can do yourself. It is worth trying to rinse the stomach. At home, this is not so difficult to do - a person needs to drink at least 1.5 liters of warm liquid in small sips. This procedure will help induce vomiting (to quickly achieve the effect, you just need to press your fingers on the root of the tongue). Instead of water, sometimes a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used.
Vomiting should not be caused by the elderly, patients with hypo- and hypertension, pregnant women. Before the doctor arrives, the patient should continue to give non-carbonated mineral water. Eating food, as well as some medications (for example, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, pain medication), is contraindicated.
It is important to preserve the remnants of the food that the person has poisoned - it must be passed to the doctor. This will help determine the type of toxin and create a more effective treatment regimen.
What is not worth doing?
If a person has symptoms of mushroom poisoning, he needs help (the recommendations were described above). But there are things that you can’t do. For example, if the patient is in an unconscious or half-conscious state, you should not try to induce vomiting, as vomit may enter the respiratory tract.
Contrary to popular belief that toxins can be neutralized and / or eliminated from the body with alcohol, drinking alcohol in this case is contraindicated. You can not ignore the symptoms, self-medicate and hope that the disorders disappear on their own - it is very important to see a doctor immediately, because the consequences of poisoning can be terrible.
Drug treatment
Therapy in a hospital depends on exactly what symptoms of mushroom poisoning are present in the patient. Take into account the type of toxin that has entered the body, the time elapsed since its use, as well as the general condition of the patient.
- First of all, gastric lavage is carried out - this will help cleanse the digestive system of the remnants of the fungi and toxins present there.
- In addition, sorbents are prescribed to patients in the first few days, in particular, “White Coal”, “Enterosgel”, “Smecta”. These drugs help to bind, neutralize and remove toxic substances from the body.
- If the patient does not have symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, then the doctor may prescribe laxatives - this will help to quickly clear the intestines of the remnants of dangerous food.
- In the future, symptomatic therapy is performed. If there is respiratory arrest, then patients are administered drugs containing atropine.
- In the presence of an inflammatory process and severe fever, administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, is indicated.
- Vomiting and diarrhea are accompanied by fluid loss, which can lead to dehydration. In order to provide the body with water and the necessary salts, “Rehydron” and other solutions of a similar action are administered intravenously.
- If we are talking about poisoning with the most dangerous types of mushrooms, then sometimes the patient needs a blood transfusion, intravenous administration of glucose and insulin, hemodialysis to cleanse the blood of toxins.
These therapeutic measures are possible for mushroom poisoning. Symptoms and treatment, as is often the case in medical practice, are closely related. Therefore, the doctor needs to describe his condition in as much detail as possible (or, if the patient does not have such an opportunity, this should be done to relatives).
Recovery period
If the symptoms of mushroom poisoning were able to be eliminated, then in the first few days (and sometimes weeks), the patient will need time to recover. Recommended bed rest, a minimum of physical activity.
An extremely important point is the diet. The body should receive enough nutrients, but along with this food should be easily digested and absorbed. The diet includes light soups, boiled or stewed vegetables (always chopped, preferably in the form of mashed potatoes), some fruits. Gradually, you can add other dishes to the menu. But alcohol, smoked meats, fatty, fried and spicy foods should be discarded.
Prevention: what you need to know?
You already know what the main symptoms and signs of mushroom poisoning are. It is much better to try to protect yourself than to cope with the consequences of intoxication. There are no specific remedies that can protect against poisoning, nor is there a surefire way to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from edible ones. Therefore, experts recommend adhering to several rules:
- Never pick and buy mushrooms unless you are sure that they are safe.
- Raw mushrooms should not be tasted if you are not sure that they are edible.
- Collected products must be thoroughly washed and cleaned.
- Follow the technology of cooking mushrooms (some varieties need to be boiled several times).
- Remember that such products in raw form should not be stored for more than 18-24 hours.
- It is not worth picking mushrooms that grow in ecologically polluted areas, close to industries, factories or the roadway.
The consequences of poisoning and forecasts
You already know about what violations can result in eating poisonous mushrooms. Symptoms of poisoning, first aid, treatment methods in a hospital are, of course, important information. It is worth noting that if the patient was delivered to the hospital on time, received adequate care and underwent appropriate treatment, then the probability of full recovery is very high.
Unfortunately, the delay in this case is really like death. Toxins contained in mushrooms, sometimes quickly spread throughout the body, affecting certain systems. In severe cases, the kidneys and liver are so damaged that it is almost impossible to restore their normal functioning - patients need a transplant. Amanita poisoning leads to the death of a person in about 50% of cases. The probability of death after eating pale toadstool is even higher - up to 90%.
That is why it stands with all possible responsibility to the selection and preparation of gifts of the forest. Having noticed the first symptoms of mushroom poisoning, you need to immediately call an ambulance team.