Man gets food poisoning after eating red mushrooms.

In Lang Son, after eating rice with a type of red mushroom, a 37-year-old man experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors determined it was mushroom poisoning.

Tests at Lang Son Provincial General Hospital revealed the patient had electrolyte imbalance, metabolic acidosis (high blood acid), acute kidney failure, and signs of liver cell damage. Doctors diagnosed the patient with mushroom poisoning and acute kidney failure, and the treatment protocol included intravenous fluids, activated charcoal, and electrolyte replacement.

On June 23rd, the patient's health stabilized. He stated that he bought the mushrooms at the market and prepared them to eat with rice. Based on the image of the mushroom provided by the patient, the doctors determined that it was a poisonous Russula mushroom. This type of mushroom closely resembles the edible Red Chẹo mushroom, so people easily mistake them for each other.

Image of the mushroom that the patient ate, leading to poisoning. Photo: Provided by the hospital. — The type of red mushroom the patient ate led to poisoning. (Photo: *Provided by the hospital)*

This is the second patient to be treated at the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit of Lang Son Provincial General Hospital in recent days for mushroom poisoning from mushrooms purchased at the market. Lang Son is a mountainous province with many types of mushrooms in nature, and it is very difficult to distinguish them from poisonous ones.

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning after consumption include abdominal pain, nausea, and dizziness. In severe cases, symptoms may include difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and can lead to acute kidney or liver failure, potentially causing death if not treated promptly.

Yesterday, 14 people in Lao Chau also suffered food poisoning after eating unfamiliar mushrooms picked from a garden. Currently, the patients are in stable condition, with no fatalities, and are continuing to be monitored. Since the beginning of June, many mushroom poisoning cases have also occurred in southern provinces, resulting in two deaths (in Tay Ninh ).

Doctors advise people to distinguish between different types of mushrooms, recognize poisonous mushrooms, and use mushrooms from reliable sources. If poisonous mushrooms are consumed and symptoms of poisoning appear, it is necessary to go to the hospital for immediate emergency treatment.

Four types of mushrooms are common in Vietnam but can cause poisoning: the white-gilled poisonous mushroom, the white conical poisonous mushroom, the gray-brown notched cap mushroom, and the green-gilled white umbrella mushroom. They can be distinguished by their shape and color.