Wild mushrooms are common in the Midwest. The word mushroom is used to describe the fruiting body of various types of fungi. They cannot synthesis their own energy like plants but depend on decaying organic matter for their energy. That's why they're commonly found around decaying vegetable matter, such as manure or rotting roots and stumps. The growth of mushrooms is favored by cool, moist weather. Thus, they are most abundant in spring and fall. Some mushrooms appear in yards after rainfalls. Often, while playing on the lawn young children will taste them. While in many cases the child does not get ill, there is the potential for serious, possibly life-threatening poisoning since many dangerous mushroom species exist in this area.
A major problem is the difficulty in identifying mushroom species. This is impossible for poison center staff who must manage these situations over the phone. In addition, very few individuals (mycologists) who are properly trained to identify wild mushrooms exist. Unfortunately, this requires that any child who eats a wild mushroom be treated. In addition to children, dogs often eat wild mushrooms, leading to serious poisoning. Most often treatment can be performed in the home under the supervision of trained poison center staff. If the poison center is not immediately contacted, resulting in a significant delay, or if a substantial number of mushrooms are eaten or any symptoms occur, these individuals must be referred to a hospital emergency department.
Besides children who eat unknown wild mushrooms, adults are also occasional victims of poisonous mushrooms. In these cases, the victim, who was attempting to identify edible species, has mistakenly picked poisonous mushrooms. These cases are much more likely to be serious as the victim may eat these poisonous mushrooms in large quantity and may not seek medical attention until severe illness has occurred.
A major problem is the difficulty in identifying mushroom species. This is impossible for poison center staff who must manage these situations over the phone. In addition, very few individuals (mycologists) who are properly trained to identify wild mushrooms exist. Unfortunately, this requires that any child who eats a wild mushroom be treated. In addition to children, dogs often eat wild mushrooms, leading to serious poisoning. Most often treatment can be performed in the home under the supervision of trained poison center staff. If the poison center is not immediately contacted, resulting in a significant delay, or if a substantial number of mushrooms are eaten or any symptoms occur, these individuals must be referred to a hospital emergency department.
Besides children who eat unknown wild mushrooms, adults are also occasional victims of poisonous mushrooms. In these cases, the victim, who was attempting to identify edible species, has mistakenly picked poisonous mushrooms. These cases are much more likely to be serious as the victim may eat these poisonous mushrooms in large quantity and may not seek medical attention until severe illness has occurred.
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