The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 9) investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving consumption of mushrooms.
The case involves two females and one male aged 73 to 75 who developed gastrointestinal symptoms, numbness and palpitation about one and a half to three and a half hours after consuming self-made tea with mushrooms, purchased from a store in Ap Lei Chau, at a restaurant on the morning of June 3. The patients sought medical advice at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on the same day and were admitted for treatment. They have been in stable condition all along and were discharged upon management.
The CHP's investigations are ongoing and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was also alerted to the case.
"Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucination, coma or other neurological symptoms as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," a CHP spokesman said.
"We advise the public to buy mushrooms from reputable and reliable suppliers and not to buy mushroom products which may be mixed with unknown species. Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones. Mixing of edible species with inedible or poisonous species of mushroom will not dilute toxicity. Cooking in most cases does not destroy toxicity," the spokesman added.
"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.
Follow this news feed: East Asia