The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 1) investigating a suspected food poisoning case related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.
The case involves a 29-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, who developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea about one hour after consuming wild mushrooms at home yesterday (August 31). They sought medical attention at North Lantau Hospital on the same day and was subsequently admitted to the hospital for further management. They are in a stable condition.
Initial investigations revealed that the patients picked the wild mushrooms that they consumed from a roadside somewhere in Tung Chung yesterday. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.
"Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"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, hallucinations, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.
"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.