{"id":10069,"date":"2021-12-02T10:35:42","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T10:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10069"},"modified":"2021-12-06T20:16:07","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T20:16:07","slug":"how-toxic-is-jack-olantern-mushroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-toxic-is-jack-olantern-mushroom\/","title":{"rendered":"How Toxic Is A Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you forage for wild mushrooms, you may have heard that jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms can be dangerous<\/a>. Not only are they toxic, but they look rather similar to some edible mushrooms. So, just how toxic is a jack o\u2019lantern mushroom? What symptoms does it cause, and how do you treat these symptoms in case of accidental mushroom poisoning? Read on to find out more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Deadly is the Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Jack o\u2019lanterns are certainly toxic, but they rarely, if ever, kill healthy adults. They may be deadly to small children or the very elderly if a significant amount is consumed, but this is generally caused by dehydration secondary to the actual effects of the mushroom toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Northern New England Poison Center<\/a>, jack o\u2019lanterns can cause severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. <\/strong>As you might expect, these symptoms can easily cause dehydration, which in turn may cause further complications such as organ damage and even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, though, jack o\u2019lanterns very rarely cause death. <\/strong>Usually, the symptoms are fairly mild, though the severity of symptoms depends largely on how much was eaten and how much of the toxin was present in the consumed mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you accidentally eat jack o\u2019lanterns<\/a>, you may begin experiencing symptoms in as little as a few minutes, and the symptoms may last for several days. The longer the vomiting and diarrhea last, the greater your chance of becoming dehydrated.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth noting that humans are not the only one susceptible to jack o\u2019lantern poisoning. These mushrooms can also cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets, though symptoms are generally quite mild and may not be immediately recognizable as mushroom poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Toxin Does the Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom Contain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jack o\u2019lanterns contain two separate toxins: muscarine and illudin. These toxins are not lethal themselves but, as noted above, can cause a plethora of unpleasant and, at times, long-lasting symptoms. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, illudin is being studied for some potential health benefits, but considering the side effects associated with eating jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms, it\u2019s hard to say how these benefits could be taken advantage of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms look a lot like other mushrooms. Some of the lookalikes are edible, while others may be toxic but contain different toxins. Check out the following video to learn how to distinguish jack o\u2019lanterns from their lookalikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bicfr2_vaq0<\/a>