Post by shoreman on Sept 26, 2006 18:13:32 GMT -5
Toxic mushroom causes death of girl; six others survive
Mushroom poisoning of two families prompts public health officials to warn about picking wild mushrooms.
Glenn Howatt, Star Tribune
www.startribune.com/462/v-pri...ry/702753.html
A 10-year old St. Paul girl has died as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms that her family had picked and used in a meal.
A health alert was issued two weeks ago by the Minnesota Health Department after seven people were hospitalized with mushroom poisoning.
Public health officials said that the victims, all Hmong, might have mistaken the toxic Eastern American Destroying Angel mushroom for a non-poisonous variety commonly found in southeast Asia.
The mushrooms were picked on Sep. 9 at Keller-Phalen Regional Park in St. Paul and consumed by members of two families that evening.
Four of the seven patients were treated and released from the hospital within a few days of the meal, but three were hospitalized longer, including two who were in intensive care.
Symptoms of poisoning by this particular mushroom, which has the formal name of Amanita bisporigera, include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occurring within six to 24 hours of consuming the mushrooms. Some patients can appear to recover over 24 to 48 hours, but liver and kidney function will deteriorate, with signs of liver damage and kidney failure appearing three to five days after consumption.
The fatality rate for Amanita poisoning can reach 20 to 30 percent despite treatment.
Mushroom poisoning of two families prompts public health officials to warn about picking wild mushrooms.
Glenn Howatt, Star Tribune
www.startribune.com/462/v-pri...ry/702753.html
A 10-year old St. Paul girl has died as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms that her family had picked and used in a meal.
A health alert was issued two weeks ago by the Minnesota Health Department after seven people were hospitalized with mushroom poisoning.
Public health officials said that the victims, all Hmong, might have mistaken the toxic Eastern American Destroying Angel mushroom for a non-poisonous variety commonly found in southeast Asia.
The mushrooms were picked on Sep. 9 at Keller-Phalen Regional Park in St. Paul and consumed by members of two families that evening.
Four of the seven patients were treated and released from the hospital within a few days of the meal, but three were hospitalized longer, including two who were in intensive care.
Symptoms of poisoning by this particular mushroom, which has the formal name of Amanita bisporigera, include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occurring within six to 24 hours of consuming the mushrooms. Some patients can appear to recover over 24 to 48 hours, but liver and kidney function will deteriorate, with signs of liver damage and kidney failure appearing three to five days after consumption.
The fatality rate for Amanita poisoning can reach 20 to 30 percent despite treatment.
