Citation

Mrvos R, Swanson-Biearman B, Krenzelok EP. J. Emerg. Med. 2007; 33(4): 381-383.

Affiliation

Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.03.002

PMID

17976769

Abstract

A review of pediatric "backyard" mushroom ingestions was conducted. A Regional Poison Information Center (RPIC) conducted a retrospective review of all mushroom ingestions in children younger than 6 years of age. Data were extracted from the RPIC electronic record system for the years 2000-2003. All exposures that involved "backyard" mushroom ingestions with no gastrointestinal decontamination were included. There were 322 mushroom exposures in children younger than 6 years of age reviewed. The mean age reported was 2.1 years (SD +/- 1.18). All exposures with a definitive outcome had a 24-h follow-up post-exposure to make this determination. There was no effect in 256 cases (79.5%); minor effect in 6 (1.9%); judged as nontoxic, expect no effect in 20 (6.2%); minimal clinical effects possible in 31 (9.6%); and unrelated effect in 9 (2.8%). It was concluded that "backyard" mushrooms do not present a toxicity hazard in unintentional pediatric exposures and require no gastrointestinal decontamination.

Language: en