Mushroom Mycotoxicosis

Cause and Transmission (Epidemiology):

Mushroom Mycotoxicosis, more commonly referred to as mushroom poisoning, is caused by ingesting various types of mushrooms that release various toxins into the body. Severity of the illness depends on the mushroom and subsequent toxin ingested. Common poisonous mushrooms include Aminita, Clitocybe, and Psilocybes, which phalloidina, amatoxin, ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscarine, or psilocybin toxins.

How It Affects the Body (Pathogenesis):

  • Amatoxin is toxic to the liver and kidneys, and results in violent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, and possibly even death.
  • Ibotenic acid and muscimol result in nausea, vomiting, and effects to the central nervous system such as confusion, visual distortion, delusions, convulsions, and drowsiness.
  • Muscarine results in excessive salivation, sweating, tears, lactation, severe vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Psilocybin results in hallucinations.

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