Amanita-Toxins (Amatoxins)
Amatoxin poisoning has a fatality rate of roughly 50%. Symptoms appear sometime between 6 and 24 hours after ingestion at which point they have already been absorbed by the body (Arora, 892).
Poisoning by amatoxin is a slow and painful why to die. After ingestion a latency period of 6-24 hours occurs in which the unlucky individual experiences no pain. During this frame of time the toxin actually damages both the liver and kidneys, though unnoticed by the individual. After this latent period severe symptoms manifest themselves for roughly one day in the form of violent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and severe abdominal cramps. Symptoms will then begin to subside for about one day causing many individuals to believe that they are recovering from their illness (Arora, 893). After this quiescent period the symptoms return only they are much more severe the second time around. The second set of symptoms includes convulsions, neuroparalysis, liver degeneration and kidney failure. Less than 50% of persons who ingest amatotoxins survive their encounter with this group of deadly toxins (Barron, 319).
At this point in time no known antidote is available for amatoxin poisoning. If you believe that someone has ingested a mushroom containing amatoxins (Amanita phalloides, A. ocreata, A. verna, A. virosa, A. bisporigera, Conocybe filaris; Galerina autumnalis, G. marginata, G. venenata; Lepiota castanea, L. helveola, L. josserandii (892) ) take him / her to the hospital immediately. Do not for any reason wait for the symptoms to appear. If you do it may be too late! (Arora, 893)
Works Cited
Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified. 2nd ed. Berkley, Ten Speed Press, 1986.
Barron, George. Mushrooms of Northeast North America. Edmonton: Lone Pine, 1999.