mushroom poisoning on the rise in the Great West

In the forest, certain mushrooms are mortal enemies for humans. Some inhabitants of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire Atlantique) decided to acquire good reflexes, Saturday October 29th. In the region, the number of poisonings is on the rise. The mushrooms are finally out, and the pickers are rushing to be able to taste them. Many have adopted the bad reflex of relying on their phone. “We totally forget smartphone applications, which lead to errors four times out of five”explains Rene Chereaupresident of the Mycological Association of the West.

Poisonings have doubled in recent weeks, from 150 to 300 cases. The symptoms are more or less serious. “Significant diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, by fungi which are of low toxicity. Then some are unfortunately very toxic (…) which will destroy the liver”says Professor Alexis Descathahead of center poison control and toxicovigilance Grand Ouest at the University Hospital of Angers (Maine et Loire).