[Shiitake dermatitis now occurs in France]

In Asia, toxic adverse effects due to picking or consumption of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes), the second most eaten mushroom in the world are well-known. Its increasing consumption in Europe, let us to emphasize that shiitake dermatitis would occur more and more frequently in Occident.

A 78-year-old woman was referred for an erythematous, micro-papular, extremely pruriginous rash disseminated all over the body (including face and scalp). No drugs had been recently introduced. Questioning revealed that lesions appeared 48 hours after eating a great quantity of raw shiitake mushrooms, leading to the diagnosis of shiitake dermatitis.

Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis are small, highly pruriginous, erythematous papules, generalized. They have a whole body spreading and in some area a linear disposition. It is a toxic reaction due to a toxin called lentinan. It occurs in the 48 hours after having eaten raw or slightly cooked mushrooms and vanishes into 10 days. Due to its increasing consumption in Occident, it is essential for European dermatologists to know this dermatosis and how to recognize it.