Mushrooms are part of a healthy diet and provide many of the nutrients your body needs. Mushrooms are beneficial for children's health because they are a good source of vitamin D, iron and antioxidants. The inclusion of mushrooms in the child's diet will strengthen the immune system and protect the liver.
A little about mushrooms
For many hundreds of years, mushrooms have been considered delicious and juicy foods in most parts of the world. The special and delicate taste of mushrooms amazed many people, especially the aristocrats in the Roman Empire. Today, many people love mushrooms for their delicate taste.
Most people think that mushrooms are one of the types of vegetables or fruits, but in reality they are a separate kingdom of living organisms.
Many of us buy mushrooms at grocery stores. These are farm mushrooms that are white and belong to the mushroom genus. Apart from this species, there are many edible mushrooms in the wild.
In autumn, a great number of people go to the forest to pick mushrooms. And, according to experts, this type of activity has a good effect on health in general.
The fact that a person is actively moving, breathing clean air, and also finding mushrooms, distracts from pressing problems and has a beneficial effect on the psychological state.
In addition, from the harvested crop, you can prepare a variety of dishes that have unique taste and health benefits.
But remember that in the fall, cases of mushroom poisoning become more frequent. And such poisoning is considered the most dangerous. A common problem with mushrooms is that they look alike and it is very difficult to distinguish edible from inedible or poisonous.
What mushrooms can be poisoned?
Many folk traditions reveal the defining traits of poisonous mushrooms. However, there are no common identifiers for poisonous mushrooms, so such rules are not reliable. Guidelines for identifying specific mushrooms exist and will be helpful if you know which mushrooms are toxic.
Examples of erroneous "rules" of folklore
"Poisonous mushrooms are brightly colored"
Indeed, fly agarics, usually bright red to orange or yellow in color, are narcotic and hallucinogenic, although no deaths have been reported.
In fact, the deadly poisonous mushrooms are unremarkable in color. For example, the deadly gallerian bordered is brown.
Certain types of edible mushrooms (chanterelles, caesar mushroom, sulfur-yellow tinder fungus) are brightly colored, while most poisonous species are white or brown.
"Insects / Animals Avoid Toxic Fungi"
Mushrooms that are harmless to invertebrates can be toxic to humans. For example, the pale grebe is often infested with insect larvae.
"Poisonous mushrooms taste bad"
People who ate deadly toadstools claimed that the mushrooms tasted excellent.
"All mushrooms are not dangerous if they are cooked / steamed, dried / pickled / and so on."
In some cases, it is true that some inedible species can be safe with special preparation, and many poisonous ones cannot release toxins.
Many mushroom poisons are not very heat sensitive and therefore do not break down during cooking. In particular, α-amanitin, a poison produced by the pale toadstool and others of this kind, is not destroyed by heat treatment.
“Poisonous mushrooms have a pointed cap. Edibles have a flat, rounded cap "
The shape of the mushroom cap is not related to the presence or absence of toxins, so this rule is not a reliable method for distinguishing between edible and poisonous species. For example, the cap of a toadstool has a rounded shape when it is ripe.
"Boletus mushrooms are generally safe to eat"
Partly true. Unlike a number of toadstool species in particular, there are no known lethal varieties of the porcini mushroom genus in most parts of the world, which reduces the risks associated with misidentification.
However, mushrooms such as the Satanic Mushroom are poisonous raw and cooked and can cause significant gastrointestinal disturbances. Other species, such as olive oak, require careful processing to destroy toxins.
Care must be taken even with boletus mushrooms, since in the forests you can find closely related mushrooms, which are nevertheless poisonous.
Other mushroom myths
- There is a legend that says that if you boil mushrooms with garlic and it turns black, the mushrooms are "bad", and if the garlic does not change color, they are "good." This legend is wrong.
- Another, completely false, legend says that when you boil mushrooms with a silver coin and it turns black, the mushrooms are poisonous. And it does not turn black if the mushrooms are edible.
- The legend that toxic mushrooms tarnish the egg white is also wrong.
- Legend has it that mushrooms that grow in mud or near waste are toxic. The fungus can grow on a littered surface and may not be poisonous because the species is edible. The fungus can grow in a clean place and be toxic because this species is always poisonous.
- The mushrooms that grow on the tree are "good". This is also false information. There are deadly species that live on logs or tree trunks.
- There is a false legend which says that all mushrooms growing on lawns are edible. In the meadows, in the forest, both edible and poisonous mushrooms grow.
- Another popular belief is that edible mushrooms become toxic when they grow in contact with poisonous ones. The edible mushroom is still edible, although it can grow alongside the poisonous one. Often toxic and edible mushrooms live in the same roots of the same tree.
- A false legend says that all mushrooms that turn black when cut are poisonous. Many toadstools do not change color when cut. At the same time, other edible mushrooms change color when cut.
How to identify poisonous mushrooms?
- Never choose small brown mushrooms or with an umbrella-shaped hat with white blades.
- A mushroom that has a bulbous cap or bag around its base is best avoided as it is likely to be toxic.
- Another most common feature of a poisonous mushroom is the presence of a ring around the stem. This ring is a clear indication of the toxicity of the fungus.
- False morels are a special type of toxic fungus. They usually grow in forests and are known to sometimes cause death. They have irregular, deformed caps and are colored white, brown, red, black and gray.
Before eating a mushroom, simply bite off its fleshy cap and wait 24 hours to see possible signs of poisoning. Even non-toxic mushrooms can sometimes make allergies worse. Thus, it is better to play it safe twice before consuming the mushroom.
Rotten mushrooms that are too old or decaying should not be consumed. It is advisable to consume only those mushrooms that are strong and fresh. Also, avoid eating wild mushrooms raw or in large quantities as they are difficult to digest.
Please remember that this is not a definitive guide, but only an introduction. No page on the Internet can replace real life experiences and instructions.
If you have no experience with mushroom picking, it is best not to engage in this activity at all. Only a qualified mycologist can determine whether a mushroom can be eaten or not.
It is best to avoid mushrooms that you find in the wild, because without a lack of knowledge and experience, there is a high risk of poisoning. Contrary to popular belief, no amount of home tests can determine whether certain types of mushrooms are safe or not.
The identification of poisonous mushrooms is something that needs to be studied especially carefully.
Overview of mushroom poisoning
Poisoning is the result of eating wild mushrooms after incorrectly identifying a poisonous mushroom as an edible species. The most common reason for misidentification is the close similarity in color and structure of toxic mushroom species to edible species.
Poisoning is the negative impact of the toxic elements present in the mushroom. Signs range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to death.
After how much mushroom poisoning occurs, depends on the amount eaten and the specific type of mushroom.
The first symptoms of mushroom poisoning may appear immediately after consumption, or after a few hours. Typically, mushrooms that cause symptoms within 2 hours are less dangerous than mushrooms that show symptoms later (after 6 hours).
The child's body is more sensitive to toxins, so when he is poisoned by mushrooms, the symptoms appear faster and the consequences are more severe.
Mechanism of action of toxins
When a toxic fungus enters the human body, it releases toxins that are carried through the bloodstream into the cells and tissues of organs.
Common symptoms of mushroom poisoning
- gastrointestinal lesions: persistent vomiting, abdominal pain and severe diarrhea;
- violation of the central nervous system (central nervous system) manifests itself in the form of hallucinations and motor excitement, alternating with inhibition and indifference;
- violation of the cardiovascular system is characterized by a decrease in blood pressure and the occurrence of tachycardia (heart palpitations);
- damage to the kidneys and liver causes a decrease in the amount of urine, the development of hepatodepression (toxic liver damage) and renal failure.
The first signs of mushroom poisoning include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, which are mixed with blood.
Symptoms of poisoning with various poisonous mushrooms
1. False chanterelle (olive omphalot).
When mushroom poisoning occurs, symptoms occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and usually diminish within 24 hours.
To the symptoms relate:
- excessive secretion of tears, sweating and salivation;
- labored breathing;
- decreased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat;
- nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
How to distinguish from an edible copy? There are two main differences. The omphalot has true sharp, non-branching laminae that run down the stem, while the chanterelle has straight, lamellar ridges on the cap to the stem. When the omphalot shaft is cleaned, it is orange inside. In chanterelles, the inside of the stem is paler than the outside.
2. False morels.
False morels are toxic to the liver. The onset of the disease usually occurs 6 to 48 hours after consumption. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, bloating, and fatigue are observed.
Differences from the true morel. Although people sometimes confuse the two mushrooms, they are actually quite different. False morel caps have a wrinkled, brain-like or saddle-like structure rather than a honeycomb pattern. In addition, if you cut the middle along the length, then morels are hollow inside, and false morels have a substance similar to cotton in their stems.
There are two of the world's deadliest mushrooms. These are mushrooms from the genus Amanita.
3. Amanita phalloides.
The hat is up to 15 centimeters in diameter. It is often sticky to the touch, and may be yellowish, brownish, whitish or greenish in color. The cap has white plates and grows on a stem up to 12 centimeters high with a white bowl at its base.
Young pale toadstools can be confused with champignons.
Mushroom poisoning manifests itself very quickly. The person begins to vomit, diarrhea, and seizures. After a few days, these symptoms will disappear, and the person will think that everything is fine with him. However, it is not. During this time, the internal organs are severely damaged, sometimes irreparably. Death can occur 6 to 18 days after eating these mushrooms.
4. Amanita bisporigera - toadstool from the genus Amanita.
Attracts with a white hat, has plates.
Diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain develop 5 to 12 hours after ingestion of the mushrooms. As in the previous case, the symptoms usually go away and the person may think that a doctor is not needed. However, after a day or two, the symptoms return to a more severe degree. By that time, the patient's liver and kidneys will stop working, and the person falls into a hepatic coma, which ends in death. If the patient survives, the treatment is difficult - liver transplant.
Poisoning with porcini mushrooms
Unfortunately, you can also get poisoned by edible mushrooms.
Causes:
- mushrooms after processing were not stored in the refrigerator, which caused bacterial contamination;
- worms that feed on boletus, release toxic metabolic products of fungal cellulose, which causes poisoning when consumed;
- the collection point for boletus was located near highways, railways, and an industrial zone, where they absorbed harmful toxic elements from the soil or air;
- poor-quality cleaning of the mushroom until the hermetic closure of the pickled edible species leads to the fact that the causative agent of botulism gets into the jar;
- use for marinating aluminum or galvanized dishes;
- the use of overripe, old mushrooms containing toxic elements of protein decomposition;
- individual sensitivity to fungal protein;
- poisoning with a gall fungus (bitterness), which was not correctly identified and eaten. Poisoning is caused by the resinous substances contained in the pulp. They are very irritating to the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines.
False porcini mushroom poisoning
Most often, the gall fungus is confused with white. Bitter poisoning is rare, because its bitter taste does not disappear during the heat treatment of food, it even increases.
It is simply impossible to eat it. True, the bitter taste decreases with prolonged soaking and is hidden by vinegar and spices during pickling. Therefore, poisoning by the "twin" of the porcini mushroom is possible in salty and pickled form.
The toxicity of bitterness has not been proven. Some people believe that poisoning is impossible, because its only danger is a bitter taste, which can spoil any dish. Therefore, eating gall mushroom is extremely difficult.
Other researchers believe that bitter toxins are somewhat similar to plant toxicants that affect liver cells. These elements are absorbed into the blood even through the skin and, accumulating in the liver, attack its cells.
A few weeks after the ingress of toxins into the body, signs of impaired synthesis and excretion of bile appear, and other functions of the liver decrease. When taking high doses of the toxin, the disease can become chronic, which causes cirrhosis of the liver.
In general, doctors classify bitterness as a group of slightly toxic mushrooms. Symptoms of poisoning appear after 2 to 3 hours, sometimes they appear after half an hour.
Signs of poisoning relate:
- abdominal pain;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea.
The forecast is favorable. The body recovers in a few days without any negative consequences.
First aid for mushroom poisoning
The first thing to do in case of mushroom poisoning is to immediately call an emergency doctor or take the patient to the hospital yourself.
Emergency assistance for mushroom poisoning before the arrival of specialists includes several important actions:
- Open windows wide for maximum fresh air flow.
- Gastric lavage. The child should drink at least 6 - 7 glasses of water. Then, induce him to vomit. Gastric lavage should be continued until a clear fluid appears without food debris.
- After cleansing the stomach, stir 20-30 g of magnesium sulfate in 100 ml of water and let the child drink. This will enhance intestinal motility.
- Do some cleansing enemas.
- Crush the activated charcoal (8 - 10 tablets) and give to the child. You can replace coal with two Smecta bags.
Do not take additional action on your own, wait for the arrival of the emergency medical service.
Try to provide the doctor with the most detailed information: where the mushrooms were taken or where they were picked, what their appearance was, how they were prepared. This will help the specialist quickly build an overall picture of the treatment.
Home treatment - is it possible?
There is no home remedy for mushroom intoxication! If you suspect the use of a toxic mushroom, you should immediately seek medical help. The sooner the treatment of mushroom poisoning begins, the less effect the poisons will have on the organs.
Hospital treatment
In case of mushroom poisoning, treatment is carried out in the hospital in the toxicology department.
- the stomach is flushed with a tube;
- laxatives, diuretics and intravenous solutions are prescribed;
- on the first day, hemosorption is carried out - the elimination of toxins from the blood by filtration through sorbents.
With mushroom intoxication, it is strictly forbidden to give the child pain relievers and antidiarrheal drugs.
Prevention of mushroom poisoning
How not to get poisoned by mushrooms:
- it is necessary to distinguish for sure edible species from poisonous, true copies from imaginary ones;
- never eat mushrooms that have never been seen before or that raise the slightest doubt. When collecting, make sure that small children do not try to eat mushrooms they have found themselves;
- do not pick old, wormy mushrooms;
- do not try raw mushrooms;
- collect mushrooms in a basket, not in a bag;
- after picking mushrooms, strictly follow all the rules for preparing dishes from them;
- be careful not to buy canned mushrooms from grandmothers in spontaneous markets, as well as factory-made from dubious producers;
- do not preserve the mushrooms yourself.
The consequences of mushroom intoxication
Poisoning with poisonous mushrooms without timely treatment leads to serious consequences.
With intoxication with pale toadstool, death occurs in 40 - 90% of episodes.
In the event of severe poisoning, the liver and kidneys are damaged and stop working, which requires organ transplants or leads to death.
Death from mushroom poisons affecting all organ systems can occur in 2 to 3 days.
Failure to provide primary care for intoxication, a delay of only 1 to 2 days with a visit to the doctor often leads to death.
The body itself cannot neutralize fungal toxins. Exceptionally timely full treatment will make it possible to save the patient.
