Poison Control Hotline Sees Spike in Calls About Wild Mushroom Illnesses

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Thanks to recent rains, mushrooms are popping up all across the area. But these fungi have the potential to make a lot of kids sick.

KMOV.com reports the Missouri Poison Control Hotline has seen a spike in calls this week from parents of toddlers who have plucked a mushroom from their front yard and taken a bite.
 
Most mushrooms are harmless, but some are poisonous and can cause serious side effects or even death. Eating poisonous mushrooms can cause symptom as minor as headaches, confusion or nausea, but can also lead to heart, liver or kidney damage.
 
In most of the calls to the Poison Control Hotline this week, the children had not shown any symptoms to indicate they had eaten a poisonous mushroom. But health officials say the biggest mistake parents make is to delay calling the hotline while searching the internet for information. 

Health officials advise parents to call the hotline as soon as possible for expert guidance.
 
Missouri Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222