Abstract
Introduction
Texas has approximately 200 species of wild mushrooms, including toxic and hallucinogenic varieties. Mushroom ingestions in Texas were studied for 2005–2006.
Methods
Data was obtained via Texas Poison Control Centers and retrospectively reviewed. Case notes were reviewed individually regarding initial reporting, age, signs and symptoms, toxic effect, management, and patient outcomes.
Results
A total of 742 exposures occurred during the study period. All exposures were acute and intentional. Of these exposures, 59 (7.9%) were admitted to the hospital, with 17 (28.8% of admissions) requiring admission to a critical care unit. Four cases required inpatient psychiatric admission. The average age of admitted exposures was 20.5 years, with a male-to-female predominance of 3.3:1. Eleven (22.9%) of the admitted exposures were identified, with Psilocybin being the most common agent (n = 10, 91%). Among the admissions, co-ingestions were identified with the mushroom ingestion in eleven patients (40.7%). The most common symptoms in admitted patients were vomiting (n = 34, 57.6%), nausea (n = 19, 32.2%), altered mental status (n = 17, 28.8%), abdominal pain (n = 13, 22%), and diarrhea (n = 10, 16.9%).
Conclusions
All mushroom exposures examined were acute and intentional. Major toxic reactions were uncommon, and no deaths were reported. Serious poisoning from mushroom ingestion is rare in Texas; however, there is greater need for information dissemination on morbidity.
Keywords: mycetismus, mushroom, mushroom ingestion, Texas, Amanita
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Footnotes
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author and not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the U.S. Army Medical Department, Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense. Citation of commercial organizations and trade names in this manuscript do not constitute any official Department of the Army or Department of the Defense endorsement or approval of the products or services of these organizations.
All data produced from the American Association of Poison Control Centers databases during the year in which the exposures occur is considered preliminary. Changes occur in only a small number of cases each year. This is because it is possible that a poison center may update a case any time during that year if new data is obtained. In February of each year, the data for the previous year is locked and no changes are permitted. At that time, the data for a year is considered closed.
There was no outside funding of any kind used for this study.
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