There is a wild season in Australia. Here’s how to keep safety and avoid poisoning

Many Australian countries, including New southern WalesIN Victoria AND South Australia In recent weeks, they have issued warnings about the risk of eating wild mushrooms.

Mushrooms usually grow in cooler and wetter times. Although these conditions are present in some parts of Australia for most of the year, in many parts of the country the growth of fungi is evident at that time (autumn and early winter).

Wild mushrooms can be easily accessible in public spaces, including parks, nature strips and forests. They are also found in people’s gardens.

Wild mushrooms attract attention for many reasons, including in a up-to-date or unexpected location, their intriguing colors and shapes, and sometimes because they look similar to edible varieties.

So what do you need to know about the risk of consuming wild mushrooms? And what is the best way to maintain safety?

Threat to the health of consuming wild mushrooms

Eating toxic mushrooms can have a variety of influence on people. The reaction may depend on the person, but mainly depends on the type of fungus.

The most common consequences are the digestive tract, for example nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Less often people can experience drowsiness, confusion or vision, including hallucinations.

Fortunately, most people experiencing these reactions will fully recover when their body eliminates toxins.

But some people suffer from solemn poisoning that requires admission to the hospital. And eating some high -risk mushrooms can cause lasting damage to crucial organs, such as liver or kidneys, and even death.

These effects occurred while eating wild mushrooms in Australia and even consumption A single mushroom of death (Amanita Falloids) can be fatal.

Amanita Falloids was more and more detected in Victoria and Australian territory of the capital In recent years. It is also known that it exists in Tasmania AND ONAnd recently he was Found in NSW.

It is possible that death mushrooms are somewhere else in Australia, but we just haven’t seen them yet.

The incidents are growing

Last alerts with NSW AND ON Show the annual number of connections with the poison information centers about fungal poisoning.

IN NSW For example Poison Information Center He responded to 363 connections in 2024 in relation to exposure to wild mushrooms in the NSW and the act, which is an escalate of 26% compared to 2023.

Moreover, it requires a higher percentage of cases referral to the hospital.

About half of the connections with the poison information centers concern the exhibition among diminutive children under the age of five. While most children had no symptoms, this number of connections about teenage children is still disturbing. Many of these children required assessment and monitoring in the hospital.

Many connections with poison information centers also apply to teenagers and adults who feed and eat wild mushrooms. Some consume mushrooms as food, while others are looking for their hallucinogenic effects. This group is usually symptomatic when they contact the poison information center, and many of them require hospital treatment.

Adults usually have heavier symptoms because they consume more than children. Most adults who contact information centers with symptoms have eaten wild mushrooms that were feeding beyond a tour with a guide with an expert.

Not all cases of mushroom poisoning are notified of the poison information center, so it is very likely that the number of cases represents a significant underestimation of the actual number of exposure and poisoning.

All this suggests that we may need more News from public health Around the dangers of wild mushrooms.

Some tips for avoiding poisoning

There is no simple way to find out if the wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people before feeding and eating, Wild mushrooms.

Perhaps outside Organized trip with an expertThe only mushrooms that people should eat are people purchased in a reputable supermarket, food or market.

Wild mushrooms can appear in your garden day by day and Small children learn about their environment By touching and putting things into the mouth. So let’s remove wild mushrooms from the areas where teenage children play. Wear gloves and reject mushrooms in trash bins to the landfill.

Some websites such as InaturalistLet people send photos of wild mushrooms so that experts can assist identify them. However, the quality of photos can affect the expert’s ability to properly identify fungal species.

If you intend to operate such a platform, consider consider Taking pictures From many angles, showing the upper part of the hat, under the attachment, stem, the size of the fungus and the trees that were found nearby.

Studies suggested some applications may not be credible independently to identify mushrooms.

If you decide to eat wild mushrooms and also take a lot of photos, keep samples. If you or someone else get ailing, mycologist (mushroom expert) can identify the fungus consumed. Knowledge of mushroom species can assist determine which treatments are required if they exist.

Finally, notice that mushrooms cannot be detoxified. Washing, peelingIN cooking or drying The fungus does not deactivate or remove toxins.

Who to call if you are worried

If you or someone you know, develops any symptoms from eating a wild mushroom, contact the poison information center immediately at 13 11 26 to get advice. This is a national phone number that will direct you to the nearest poison information center, 24 hours a day.

Even if a child or someone else has no symptoms after eating a potentially poisonous mushroom, call before the development of symptoms. Symptoms may occur Many hours to present With Amanita FalloidsSo being asymptomatic is not necessarily calming.

In emergency, for example seizures, fall or unconsciousness, call 000.