Highlight: Cases of poisoning from eating inedible mushrooms

Over the weekend of September 28 and 29, 15 people were poisoned after consuming mushrooms in the departments of Ariège, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne, and Tarn. Symptoms appeared within 2 to 3 hours after ingestion and included abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. The individuals sought treatment in the emergency room, but their condition did not require hospitalization. The mushrooms responsible for these poisonings were either from the Tricholoma family, such as the yellowing agaric; or from the Lepiota family, such as Lepiota subincarnata; or Satan’s cups. The first warning signs of poisoning from eating inedible mushrooms are similar to those of food poisoning. The first visible symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, profuse sweating, skin rashes, severe agitation, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and headaches. Depending on their toxicity, symptoms may appear anywhere from 15 minutes to more than 6 hours after the meal. Symptoms occurring more than 6 hours after eating wild mushrooms are a sign of severe poisoning. Poisoning can lead to symptoms ranging from acute gastroenteritis to death. Mushroom season is beginning in our Midi-Pyrénées departments. As a precaution, the ARS recommends being vigilant when identifying mushrooms and not hesitating to have your harvest identified by a pharmacist to ensure they are safe to eat. You should also not hesitate to consult your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms following the consumption of mushrooms.