Press Release

Suspected food poisoning case under investigation

15 September 2014

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 15) investigating a suspected food poisoning involving a 35-year-old woman who had eaten multiple types of mushrooms.

The patient developed vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain about three hours after eating mushrooms at home on September 2. She was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for observation on September 3 and was discharged on the same day. She has been in stable condition all along.

The cause of food poisoning is still under investigation.

"Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the species, patient may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, illusion, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases." a CHP spokesman said.

"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman added.