Two children hospitalized after eating chocolate with hallucinogenic mushrooms
Two children, ages 5 and 6, are in pediatric intensive care at Galilee Medical Center with hallucinations and dilated pupils after eating chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms during a vacation in Achziv
Two young children, aged 5 and 6, were hospitalized on Sunday at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya following the consumption of chocolate laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms during a family vacation in Achziv. Both children exhibited severely dilated pupils and hallucinations, leading to their admission to the pediatric emergency department and later the pediatric intensive care unit for observation.
The Israel Poison Information Center suspected a poisoning from Psilocybe and Panaeolus mushrooms, both known for their psychoactive compound psilocybin. Psilocybin, converted into psilocin in the body, induces hallucinations and other neurological symptoms. The children were stable initially but showed symptoms of poisoning, necessitating hospitalization for close monitoring.
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include confusion, dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, and in severe cases, seizures and impaired heart function. Dr. Sally Makhom and Dr. Tsvi Sheleg emphasized the unpredictability of this poisoning type and the importance of immediate medical attention. Beterem-Safe Kids Israel highlighted the tragic nature of such incidents, noting that seven children died from mushroom poisoning over a decade, and over 2,500 annual visits to emergency rooms are due to poisoning.
They urged parents and adults to prevent such incidents by keeping harmful substances out of children's reach.
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