Mushroom intoxication, a fatal condition in Romanian children: Two case reports

Approximately 5000 species of wild mushroom are reported worldwide, of which 100 are documented as poisonous and <10 are fatal. The clinical picture of patients with wild mushroom intoxication depends mostly on the type of ingested mushroom, ranging from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to organ failure and death.

We report 2 children, sister and brother admitted in our clinic for gastrointestinal symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after wild mushroom ingestion.

The laboratory tests revealed hepatic cytolysis syndrome, hyperbilirubinemia, impaired coagulation status, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, and electrolytic unbalances in both cases. Abdominal ultrasound showed hepatomegaly and ascites.

After admission, both cases received penicillin by vein, activated charcoal, liver protectors, glucose, and electrolytes perfusions. Nevertheless, their status worsened and required the transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit for appropriate supportive measure. Therefore, therapeutic plasma exchange was initiated along with N-acetyl cysteine and hemostatic drugs.

Despite all these therapeutic interventions, both cases developed hepatorenal syndrome and died after a couple of days from ingestion.

Mushroom poisoning remains a public health problem in developing countries. Preventable strategies and education regarding the consumption of wild type mushrooms are essential for decreasing the morbidity and mortality rates in these areas.