Picking, eating wild mushrooms dangerous; 7 downed in Baguio

By Carlito C. Dar and AC Torres

BAGUIO CITY – Picking and eating wild mushrooms could be dangerous to your health.

With the onset of the rainy season, the City Health Services Office said cases of mushroom poisoning have  been recorded in the city.

HSO medical officer Dr. Donnabel Tubera, in an interview over PIA Hour radio program, disclosed seven cases of mushroom poisoning were recorded in city hospitals the past two weeks.

Victims included a family of four, a father and son, and another male.

Two of the children victims were confined under intensive care unit.

With mushrooms of various varieties sprouting  during the rainy season, Tubera advised mushroom pickers to be cautious  as there are species of mushrooms that are highly toxic and can cause renal (kidney) failure.

“If you are not sure, do not eat it. It is not true that boiling, salting or drying will clean the mushroom of  its  toxic substance,” Tubera said.

Mushroom poisoning can be fatal, she added, citing  a patient who died due to renal failure.

Tubera said symptoms of poisoning  include vomiting, stomach aches, and drowsiness which may manifest within 20 minutes to four hours after eating the mushrooms.

She advised the public not to eat mushrooms collected near roads or places like golf courses where the mushroom can be contaminated with heavy metals, toxic sprays, among others.

She added mushroom pickers and eaters must know how to identify edible mushrooms.

Tubera said some people were sensitive to certain types of mushrooms which is why they should always eat a small amount when it is their first time to try new species.