WV Poison Center Experts Warn of the Dangers of Wild Mushrooms

Mushrooms pop up in yards, fields, and throughout the woods all over West Virginia, especially after rainfall. These mushrooms may look like the ones you enjoy in food or purchase at the grocery store, but you cannot be sure they are safe to eat.
Some mushrooms are edible and some are poisonous. The symptoms of mushroom poisoning varies depending on the type of mushroom that was eaten. Some mushrooms may cause upset stomachs, vomiting, and diarrhea. More serious symptoms may be seizures, coma, hallucinations, and/or liver failure. Mushroom poisoning can be fatal.
Children may eat mushrooms they find in their yard. Adults have been poisoned after eating mushrooms picked in the wild. Teenagers and adults have been poisoned after using mushrooms to cause hallucinations. Mushroom identification can be difficult and complex. Mushroom identification is best left to the experts, called mycologists.
If someone has consumed a wild mushroom, call the West Virginia Poison Center immediately at 1.800.222.1222. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
The West Virginia Poison Center provides comprehensive emergency poison information, prevention and educational resources to West Virginians 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The WVPC is staffed by nurses, pharmacists and physicians with special training in treatment of poisonings. Located in Charleston, WV, the WVPC is a part of the West Virginia University-Charleston Division. Toll-free:1.800.222.1222. Website:www.wvpoisoncenter.org.