Two Teen Girls Hospitalized in Tel Aviv After Foraging and Eating Wild Poisonous Mushrooms
Two teenage girls were hospitalized at Ichilov Hospital after eating toxic wild mushrooms foraged in central Israel. Doctors warn against consuming wild mushrooms and relying on AI for identification.
Two teenage girls, aged 12 and 14, were hospitalized at the Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital at Ichilov after consuming wild mushrooms they foraged in open areas in the central region. The incidents occurred within days of each other as the girls were out with friends. Both experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration. One was rushed by ambulance, while the family brought the second.
Prof. Miguel Glatstein, a senior toxicologist and pediatric emergency medicine expert at the hospital, explained that the girls were hospitalized for roughly 24 hours of observation due to concerns over potential complications. When symptoms appear shortly after consumption, the prognosis is typically better and less likely to cause severe complications. Dehydration results from fluid loss, and intravenous fluids generally improve the condition. Conversely, delayed symptoms can prove fatal.
Danger of Wild Foraging and AI Identification
Fortunately, neither girl suffered liver or kidney damage, which can occur from toxic mushroom ingestion. Prof. Glatstein noted that in his 20 years of practice, he had never encountered teenagers picking and eating wild mushrooms on their own, as such incidents usually involve adults. He recalled a tragedy from about 15 years ago when a child died from liver failure after being fed wild mushrooms by his parents.
With recent rainfall across the country, mushrooms have begun sprouting in gardens, parks, and open fields, many of which are highly toxic. Prof. Glatstein warned that consuming poisonous mushrooms can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, cardiac issues, hallucinations, and seizures. In severe cases, medical intervention may not suffice, as there is no single antidote for all poisonings.
Prof. Glatstein also strongly cautioned against relying on artificial intelligence tools to identify mushrooms. People frequently photograph fungi and use tools like ChatGPT to determine if they are safe, but such identification is inherently unreliable and potentially deadly. The definitive message to the public is clear: do not eat wild-foraged mushrooms. Anyone experiencing symptoms after consumption should immediately seek medical attention.
