Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Warns Against the Dangers of Wild Mushrooms.
According to the Public Relations Office of the Prehospital Emergency and Disaster Management Center at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, since the beginning of this year, 1 person has died and 55 others have been poisoned and hospitalized due to the consumption of toxic mushrooms.
These incidents typically occur because individuals are unable to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms, especially during this season when wild mushrooms are more abundant.
Common symptoms of mushroom poisoning include:
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Flushing and changes in skin temperature (especially on the face and abdomen)
- Heart palpitations
Severe symptoms may include:
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Breathing difficulties
- Liver and kidney failure
- Coma
- Death
How to prevent mushroom poisoning:
The safest way to avoid mushroom poisoning is to never consume wild mushrooms collected from nature. Distinguishing between edible and poisonous mushrooms is extremely difficult—even for experts—as they often grow side by side in the wild.
No laboratory test can definitively confirm whether a wild mushroom is safe to eat. Therefore, it is safest to assume that all wild mushrooms are poisonous and purchase mushrooms only from reputable grocery stores.
Generally, mushrooms growing on the ground are more dangerous than those found on tree trunks. Likewise, mushrooms found in forests pose greater risks compared to those growing in home gardens.
Important reminder:
Cooking toxic mushrooms does not eliminate their poisonous compounds.
What to do in case of poisoning:
If you or someone else shows symptoms of mushroom poisoning, immediately call 115 (the emergency medical services number in Iran).