PHOTO: Death cap mushrooms are responsible for 90 per cent of all mushroom poisoning deaths.(Gregory Nelson: ABC News)
A woman who was admitted to a Melbourne hospital earlier this week after eating poisonous mushrooms has died.
The woman, aged in her 50s, picked the death-cap mushrooms in the eastern suburb of Box Hill at the weekend.
She was admitted to the Austin Hospital in a critical condition on Wednesday.
It is believed she was visiting from China.
Heath officials have warned people against picking their own mushrooms, because dangerous varieties can look very similar to those that are safe to eat.
The death cap is a large mushroom with white gills and the base of the stem is surrounded by a cup-shaped sack.
History:
Death cap mushrooms are considered the most poisonous in the world and one is enough to kill an adult human.
At least six people have died and at least 12 made sick from eating death cap mushrooms in Australia in the past decade.
Death caps have been involved in the majority of deaths around the world from mushroom poisoning, including that of Roman emperor Claudius.
Appearance:
Death cap mushrooms are similar in appearance to several species of edible mushrooms commonly used in cooking, such as paddy straw mushrooms and caesar's mushroom.
Death caps may be white but are usually pale green to yellow in colour, with white gills and a white or pale green stalk up to 15cm long.
The entire mushroom is poisonous and cooking or peeling the mushroom does not remove toxicity.
Symptoms:
Death caps are said to taste pleasant and symptoms can occur six to 24 hours after consumption.
Initial symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, hypotension and jaundice, followed by seizures, coma, renal failure and cardiac arrest.
Habitat:
Death cap mushrooms can be found in parts of south eastern Australia, particularly ACT and parts of Victoria.
They are commonly found near established oak trees and some other hardwood trees and are most common during later summer to early winter after heavy rain or irrigation.
It is thought death caps were introduced to Australia with the importation of different hardwoods.
Treatment:
Death caps are extremely poisonous and if consumed it is a medical emergency.
Anyone who suspects they have eaten a death cap should seek immediate medical attention and where possible take a mushroom sample for identification.
