Gaza: Princess Raya Public Hospital in the town of Deir Abi Saeed in Koura District received a number of citizens seeking treatment after consuming wild mushrooms that were found to be poisonous.
According to Jordan News Agency, hospital director Dr. Mohammad Abu Halawa stated that the Ministry of Health has published health information on wild mushroom poisoning. The cases treated at the hospital were due to the consumption of toxic varieties of wild mushrooms that grow in forests, fields, and gardens. Dr. Abu Halawa highlighted that out of thousands of mushroom types, around 100 are poisonous, and citizens often search for wild mushrooms after weather depressions, yet many struggle to distinguish between the toxic and non-toxic varieties.
Dr. Abu Halawa explained that mushroom toxicity remains even after cooking, boiling, or freezing. The incubation period between consuming poisonous mushrooms and symptom onset is typically short, largely depending on the specific toxin and amount consumed. Symptoms manifest more quickly and severely in children and the elderly, ranging from mild gastrointestinal issues to organ failure and potentially death. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, visual disturbances, convulsions, itching, and dry mouth.
He emphasized the necessity of purchasing mushrooms from reliable sources and avoiding wild ones since they cannot be differentiated by taste, shape, color, or size.
Salem Khasawneh, Director of the Koura District Agriculture Directorate, reiterated the routine warnings issued to citizens about the dangers of collecting or consuming wild mushrooms post-rainfall, due to health risks. He pointed out that many poisonous mushroom species closely resemble edible ones and are indistinguishable by mere appearance or experience.
Khasawneh urged the public to abstain from consuming wild mushrooms unless laboratory-tested and confirmed as non-toxic by competent authorities. He warned that poisonous mushrooms can cause liver and kidney failure and may lead to death, especially among vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and the sick. He debunked popular myths about determining mushroom edibility based on cooking, tasting, color changes, or insect presence.
He stressed the importance of food safety as a shared responsibility, advocating for the avoidance of wild mushrooms of unknown origin, limiting consumption to cultivated mushrooms from known sources. He advised citizens to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health center or hospital if wild mushroom consumption is suspected or symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or dizziness arise, rather than relying on home remedies.
Source: Jordan News Agency