Naples - Twenty-five cases in just five days. This shocking figure has put the Poison Control Center (CAV) at the Cardarelli Hospital in Naples on high alert. One of Italy's most important facilities, it has recently been forced to step up its response to a wave of poisonings from poisonous mushrooms.
The spike in poisonings is almost entirely attributable to a risky practice: consuming fresh mushrooms picked independently or received as gifts without first checking their edibility. This gambling, as doctors emphasize, can have irreversible or, worse, fatal consequences.
The alarm cry from "TIGU-CAV"
"Mushroom season has just begun, and we've already received 25 reports in the last five days," says Dr. Anna Lanza, an anesthesiologist at the TIGU-CAV (Intensive Care and Large Unit – Poison Control Center) directed by Romolo Villani.
The expert issues a warning that brooks no argument: "Poisonous mushrooms can kill, as is the case with species belonging to the fearsome Amanita family." But the danger doesn't stop there. Ingesting other toxic species can cause serious liver damage—up to fulminant hepatitis—as well as compromising the kidneys and neurological system.
Deceptive Latency: The Silent Danger
Doctors are clear: prevention is the only weapon. They urge you to use the mycological service of your local health authority (ASL), which offers completely free and qualified mushroom identification.
But how do you recognize poisoning? Dr. Lanza explains the symptoms: "They range from the classic nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and general malaise. Some mushrooms, however, can also cause kidney and neurological problems."
The most insidious factor is the latency period, the time between ingestion and the onset of symptoms. "The longer the symptoms take to appear," warns Lanza, "the more likely it is that you are dealing with a serious problem." In many cases, symptoms can appear 12, 18, or even 24 hours after eating, sometimes preceded by an intermediate phase of apparent well-being that leads people to underestimate the seriousness of the situation. Never hesitate to go to the hospital if you have the slightest suspicion.
Comments (1)
The information on mushroom poisoning is very helpful, but I wonder why people continue to pick them without checking first. It's too serious a health risk, and it would be better to be more informed.