Where do poisonous mushrooms generally grow?

There are relatively many species of poisonous mushrooms in China, and they are widely distributed. More than 10 species can cause severe poisoning, while most poisonous mushrooms have low toxicity and cause mild poisoning symptoms. Where are the locations of poisonous mushrooms?

1. Locations of poisonous mushrooms

Poisonous mushrooms generally grow in woodland, on ground with decaying organic matter such as weeds, and on the dung of livestock such as cattle and horses. Most prefer dark and damp environments. There are about 100 species of poisonous mushrooms in China, and different varieties have different growing locations.

2. Poisonous mushroom poisoning

1. Psychiatric poisoning. There are many types of toxins that cause this type of reaction, and some toxins can cause hallucinogenic effects similar to those of drugs. Based on poisoning symptoms, it can be divided into nerve excitation, nerve inhibition, mental confusion, and various hallucinatory reactions. Poisoning by mushrooms containing muscarine has a relatively short incubation period, generally onset within 10 minutes to 6 hours after eating. Symptoms include heavy sweating, fever, salivation, tearing, chills, slowed heartbeat, decreased blood pressure, rapid breathing, constricted pupils, blurred vision, weakened eyesight, and even unclear vision, bronchial spasm, and acute pulmonary edema. In severe cases, there may be delirium, convulsions, coma or stupor, and death due to respiratory depression. The psychiatric symptoms caused by different toxins are also somewhat different.

2. Gastrointestinal reactions appear. This is a relatively common type of poisoning. The incubation period is relatively short, generally with onset within 10 minutes to 6 hours after eating. The main manifestations are acute nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, or accompanying dizziness, headache, and general fatigue. The course of the disease is generally short, recovery is relatively quick, the prognosis is relatively good, and deaths are few. However, severe cases may experience vomiting blood, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, coma, and death due to acute liver and kidney failure.

3. Hemolytic symptoms appear. This type of poisoning has a relatively long incubation period, generally with onset 6 to 12 hours after eating. In addition to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and restlessness, hemolytic symptoms can rapidly appear within one or two days because large amounts of toxin destroy red blood cells. The main manifestations are acute anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Sometimes after hemolysis, kidney damage can be caused, with proteinuria, hematuria, and even secondary severe symptoms such as uremia.

4. Poisoning by the death cap mainly causes liver damage. Amatoxins act directly on liver cell nuclei, causing cells to rapidly necrose. This is one of the important reasons leading to death in poisoned patients.

5. In many cases, poisonous mushroom poisoning causes respiratory and circulatory failure. It is mainly characterized by toxic myocarditis, acute renal failure, and respiratory paralysis, with pupils slightly dilated, but without coma, without parasympathetic excitatory symptoms, and without jaundice or enlarged liver. Liver function tests are generally normal.

6. Some people who mistakenly eat poisonous mushrooms develop photosensitive dermatitis. The toxin is porphyrin-type photosensitizing substances. After the toxin is absorbed, cells become more sensitive to sunlight, and dermatitis appears on all areas exposed to sunlight, such as redness and swelling, sunburn-like fever, and needle-like pain.

In general, try to eat mushrooms that are known to be safe. Many methods for identifying poisonous mushrooms are misinformation and have no scientific basis.