Mushroom Poisoning in Children: Incidence and Mortality Risk Factors

A recent study conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University investigated the incidence and mortality risk factors associated with mushroom poisoning in children. Published in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine on June 17, 2025, the research highlights critical findings regarding the severity of mushroom poisoning and its implications for pediatric health.

The study included a retrospective analysis of 67 hospitalized children diagnosed with mushroom poisoning from January 2012 to December 2023. The findings revealed a concerning mortality rate of 23.88% among the subjects, which translates to an incidence of death during hospitalization at 35.02 per 1,000 person-days. This mortality rate is significantly higher than previous reports, indicating that children may suffer more severe outcomes from mushroom poisoning compared to adults.

According to Dr. Jie Cheng, the lead author and a pediatric emergency specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, "The high mortality rate observed in our study suggests that mushroom poisoning remains one of the most pressing food safety issues in China, particularly affecting children."

The research employed the Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) scoring system to evaluate the severity of organ dysfunction in the affected children. The study found that a pSOFA score of 2.00 or greater was significantly associated with increased mortality risk, with an odds ratio of 4.92 (95% CI, 1.59-62.21; P = 0.040). Dr. Cheng emphasized the importance of early intervention, stating, "Timely treatment is crucial. Our findings suggest that children with mushroom poisoning who receive care promptly are more likely to survive."

The retrospective cohort also examined clinical characteristics, revealing that gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea were prevalent among the patients. Notably, the study indicated that children who required invasive mechanical ventilation had a higher mortality risk. The median age of the patients was 7.92 years, with a predominance of males at 55.22%.

The research team, which included experts like Dr. Junming Huo, a critical care physician, noted that liver function deterioration is a common consequence of mushroom poisoning. This aligns with previous studies showing that toxic mushrooms induce multi-organ failure, particularly affecting the liver. In fact, more than 20% of the children required artificial liver support therapy, which is critical for managing severe cases of mushroom poisoning.

Additionally, the study reported that children presenting with a longer duration between mushroom ingestion and hospital admission faced higher mortality rates. The authors advocate for increased public education on the dangers of mushroom consumption and the identification of toxic species.

In conclusion, the findings underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures and educational initiatives regarding mushroom consumption in children. As the study indicates, the pSOFA score is a promising prognostic tool that could enhance clinical decision-making for managing mushroom poisoning in pediatric patients. Future research is needed to explore multi-center studies that could validate these findings across different populations.

The study was conducted under the approval of the Ethics Committee of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and the authors have declared no competing interests. Data supporting these findings can be found in the published article in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine, and further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author, Dr. Liping Tan.