Early hemodiafiltration (HDF) is life-saving in cases with mushroom  poisoning

Seçil Conkar, Ebru Yılmaz*, Kadriye Özdemir,  İpek Kaplan Bulut and Sevgi Mir

Ege University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Nephrology

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ebruylmz@yahoo.com; Tel: 00905323361214

Accepted 23 December, 2014

Abstract

The consumption of food or water contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, or chemical substances can cause food borne diseases, which may occur sporadically or epidemically. Although most food borne diseases cause gastrointestinal symptoms, are self-limiting, and have a rapid recovery, they can also lead to clinical situations with high mortality and morbidity, such as serious mushroom poisoning, which requires hospitalization and intensive care. Herein we present the clinical courses, laboratory results, and treatment of 3 cases with mushroom poisoning who developed renal failure to emphasize the importance of renal replacement treatment in mushroom poisoning. We aimed to evaluate methods used in the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, protection, and prevention of food and mushroom poisoning in children. Awareness should be raised that mushrooms can be toxic, and that if symptoms of poisoning do occur, individuals should be treated as early as possible. HDF treatment should also be applied as soon as possible in order to reduce mortality rates.

Keywords: Mushroom poisoning, children, hemodiafiltration