Pediatric Amatoxin Toxicity Follow-up
- Author: Douglas S Lee, MD; Chief Editor: Timothy E Corden, MD more...
Further Inpatient Care
- Admit all cases of patients with A phalloides mushroom poisoning and observe for progression to later stages.
- Continue vigorous intravenous (IV) hydration and gastric decontamination.
Further Outpatient Care
- Patients who remain asymptomatic for 12 hours after ingestion of unknown mushrooms may be safely discharged.
- Monitor the following laboratory studies for signs of deterioration:
- Liver function tests
- Electrolytes and glucose levels
- BUN and creatinine levels
- Prothrombin time
Transfer
- Consider transferring any symptomatic patient to a facility with liver transplant capability to minimize delays in procuring an appropriate organ.
Deterrence/Prevention
- Closely monitor young children in rural or suburban areas.
- Educate mushroom pickers of the dangers of amateur mushroom hunting.
Complications
- Various studies have shown that some who recover from acute liver failure may go on to develop chronic liver disease.
- The mechanism of development of related chronic liver disease is unknown but changes in hepatocyte structure may induce autoimmunity, leading to chronic hepatitis with potential progression to end-stage liver disease.
Prognosis
- Prognosis is most likely determined by the quantity of mushroom that was eaten.
- A variation in individual susceptibility to the toxin has been reported.
- Children absorb a larger dose of toxins per kilogram of body weight and have a higher mortality than adults.
Patient Education
- Educate the patient of the dangers of amateur mushroom hunting.
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