Are they poisonous?
Early October rains have been very welcomed after the long spell of very hot, dry days. But the welcomed rains left an unwelcomed sight on our lawns and in our yards. Those unwelcomed guests are those unsightly toadstools popping up all over. Some are non-poisonous and some are poisonous, but they grow side by side, and there is no way for us to tell the difference. There is no description that can help you distinguish which is which.
Children are fascinated by toadstools; pets are curious about them. When young children find these toadstools, they usually pick them, get them on their hands and occasionally put them in their mouths. You may be asking, “Can this pose a danger for my child if he does pick them and eat them?” I can tell you personally and most positively, yes, they can pose a danger.
Symptoms of toadstool poisoning depend on the type and quantity of the toadstool consumed. Victims may experience nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, seizures and organ damage. Symptoms may appear as soon as 30 minutes or as late as 24 hours after ingesting the toadstool. Symptoms from minor poisoning may last for a few days, while severe cases are sometimes fatal. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to toadstool poisoning.
When my oldest child was 4, some neighbor children were playing outside with my daughter. These elementary-aged children thought it would be fun to tell my daughter that the toadstools in the yard were candy. They actually ate candy and gave her the toadstools. She took one bite and spit it out.
The children, wanting to get my daughter in trouble, tattled on her and told me she had eaten the toadstool. I called our pediatrician, Dr. William Haynie, immediately. We did what he told us to do and eventually had to take her to the hospital. She had been throwing up severely and perspiring so much she became dehydrated. She was beginning to go into a coma. She was put in intensive care and administered an antidote.
We stood by her bed all night hoping to see her rally. The next morning, she woke up bright-eyed, asking for ice cream. We thanked God for our daughter’s life and for giving us a doctor like Haynie. We are still appreciative to this day.
You cannot tell which toadstools are non-poisonous from those that are poisonous so make sure you remove the toadstools that pop up in your yard. Use disposable gloves to remove the toadstools and put them in a plastic bag and throw them away.
Remember those same toadstools are poisonous to pets, also. So if you don’t have any children at home, but do have pets that go out into the yard, remember to remove the toadstools for them, too. If you see toadstools coming up in your yard and neighboring yards, tell your neighbor the dangers of poisonous toadstools.
Dianne Glasgow is a family and child specialist at the LSU AgCenter in Caddo Parish. She can be reached at dglasgow@agcenter.lsu.edu, 226-6805 or 464-2552.
