A woman in her 40s presented to her doctor with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Symptoms had started within two to three hours of eating an omelette made with wild mushrooms the family had picked what they thought were “parasols” (fig 1, top panel), but on the basis of their description by the patient were probably another mushroom species (fig 1, bottom panel). The patient did not report any confusion, excess sweating, hallucinations, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, or discomfort. She had no history of medical conditions. On examination she showed no signs of dehydration or skin abnormalities. Heart rate and blood pressure were within normal limits. The patient’s husband and young daughter had similar gastrointestinal symptoms. The patient’s son had not eaten the omelette or any wild mushrooms and was asymptomatic.
Fig 1
Edible mushroom species Macrolepiota procera (top), mycotoxin containing species Chlorophyllum brunneum (bottom)
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