National Surveillance of Food Poisoning from Mushrooms: Summary of Cases Reported to the Poison Control Center Network from 2010 to 2017 in Metropolitan France

Introduction - In 2010, reports of poisoning from death cap mushrooms led health authorities responsible for toxicovigilance to establish a seasonal surveillance system for mushroom poisoning for the purposes of early warning and prevention. Methods - A retrospective study of cases of accidental poisoning due to mushroom ingestion recorded by poison control centers (CAP) from 2010 to 2017 in metropolitan France. Severe cases were reviewed and validated by a toxicologist from the POC network. Results - A total of 10,625 cases were included from 2010 to 2017, half of which were group cases. Seasonality was marked in October, despite a monthly peak in cases as early as August in two years. Poisonings were most prevalent in western, southern, and eastern France. Ages ranged from 9 months to 96 years (mean 45.3 years); 3.3% of cases were under 5 years of age. More than 90% of those poisoned presented with one or more gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by systemic and/or neurological symptoms. Although it was not possible to confirm the species actually consumed, the mushrooms most frequently implicated were boletes (26.3% of cases), followed by agarics (7.7%); in approximately 30% of cases, the species was not specified. Between 11 and 44 severe cases and 0 to 5 deaths were identified each year (median: 30.5 severe cases and 3 deaths per year). Deaths were due to phalloid syndrome (68.2%) or sudori syndrome (31.8%). Conclusion - While surveillance is necessary to disseminate national recommendations on mushroom foraging and consumption during peak poisoning season, local partners (mycological associations, pharmacists, etc.) remain essential to help identify foraging activities and thereby limit the number of poisonings.

Author(s): Sinno-Tellier Sandra, Bruneau Chloé, Daoudi Jamel, Greillet Chloé, Verrier Agnès, Bloch Juliette

Publishing year: 2019

Pages: 666-678

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2019, n° 33, p. 666-678

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