Schwammerl alarm: Austria's mushroom season 2023 in the crisis!

Schwammerl alarm: Austria's mushroom season 2023 in the crisis!

Österreich - The mushroom season 2023 in Austria has been described as mixed and partly catastrophic by experts. According to OE24 , high temperatures and persistent dryness have contributed significantly to the weak growth. In addition, strong wind has harmed the mushroom growth. Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, President of mycological society, draws attention to the importance of the right soil and humidity for optimal mushroom growth.

In Austria there is a diverse mushroom flora with around 17,000 species, including 4,500 large mushrooms. Of these, about 200 are edible, while 20 are considered to be deadly toxic. Although there were only 40 reported mushroom poisoning in the current year, most good years show numbers of up to 500 poisoning. Mycologists who are mushroom specialists warn that not every collector is qualified as a mycologist. Egg-wet, parasol and porcini mushrooms are currently growing, but in small quantities.

risks and precautionary measures

The recommended procedure for mushroom collectors is only taking the daily needs with you and taking into account nature. Mushrooms not only play a role as a source of food for insects, but also contribute to the spread of their spores. Two thirds of the mushroom poisoning result from the consumption of old mushrooms. Therefore, experts advise to consume only fresh and clearly identified fungi.

according to the Ärzteblatt are mushroom poisoning regionally and weather-dependent. These are rather rare in everyday clinical life, which leads to a low experience in diagnostics and therapy. Around 150 toxic mushrooms have been handed down in Europe, and toxic and edible varieties are often mistaken for poisonous and edible varieties. The diagnosis is made by identifying the consumed mushroom, the time interval between consumption and symptoms as well as laboratory examinations.

symptoms and therapy for poisoning

The symptoms and the severity of the poisoning depend on the type of mushroom consumed. Mushroom poisoning with a longer latency is particularly dangerous, synonymous with a greater probability of severe health damage. According to wikipedia , many fatal poisoning originated in mushrooms such as the green tuber mushroom (Amanita Phalloides), whose main poison is α-amanitin. The mortality of those affected who have severe symptoms is up to 20% in children. The most common symptoms include violent vomiting and severe abdominal pain, with treatment in a clinic.

The therapy includes fluid and electrolyte compensation, often also the administration of special anti-dots such as silibinine. In particularly severe cases, even a liver transplant may be necessary. Orellanin poisoning caused by the orange raw head (Cortinarius Orellanus) are particularly treacherous due to their long latency and can lead to serious kidney damage.

Overall, it is essential to reduce prejudices on mushrooms and to raise awareness of the dangers through improper consumption. While the mushroom season is an exciting time for many collectors, well-founded knowledge of edible and toxic varieties must be the focus of the consideration.