Oct 20, 2009 10:43 pm US/Eastern
Mother, Son Nearly Die After Eating Wild Mushrooms
NEWTON (WBZ) ―
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Poisonous mushrooms are popping up in Massachusetts communities.
WBZ
Health officials are warning people not to harvest mushrooms that may be growing in their yards. A Newton mother and son nearly died from eating wild mushrooms.
The City Health Commissioner said an elderly Oak Hill woman picked the mushrooms and made them into a dish that she and her son ate last Thursday. The pair became very sick after eating the food.
Jay Krasner lives in Oak Hill neighborhood where the woman and son live. He's noticed more mushrooms popping up and told WBZ's Eileen Curran he feels bad for the pair.
"It makes you realize how careful you have to be even in your own backyard," he said.
The
poisonous mushrooms are nicknamed 'destroying angel' and 'death cap.' The mushrooms are common to the area, and have sprouted up in more neighborhoods due to all the summer rainfall.
Colleen Longfellow works with the Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital. She says they're received more than 600 calls regarding mushrooms over the past three years.
Children's Hospital Boston Poison Control Center
"We certainly have various types of poisonous mushrooms in our region; some of the most serious can cause liver damage and other serious issues."
She cautions parents to keep their children away from wild mushrooms.
"If you notice there are some mushrooms growing, make sure to keep children away from them, not to pick them or use them for anything. The safest mushrooms are the ones you're going to buy in the grocery store," she said.
The mother and son are in the hospital. Their names have not been released.
WBZ's Eilleen Curran also contributed to this report.
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