Teenage Syrian dies of poisoning

The Syrian teenager was brought to a hospital in Germany's western city of Münster last week after he had apparently consumed the dangerous "death cap" mushroom (amanita phalloides), doctors said. He suffered from a liver collapse and died after all efforts to find a liver donor failed, the Münster university clinic said in a statement.

"The severe poisoning meant a transplant was the only chance," Hartmut Schmidt, director of transplants at the clinic told reporters. Four others, including the mother of the boy, were admitted to the hospital. Three were relieved after successful treatment, but doctors were looking for a liver donor for the fourth patient, the clinic said.

Warning for migrants

More than 50 cases of similar poisoning have shown up in hospitals in Hanover and Münster in recent weeks. Health officials in Bavaria, which has been experiencing a large influx of migrants in the last few weeks, have warned refugees, especially Syrians, against consuming the death cap mushroom.

Medical experts believe the migrants could be confusing the death cap for a more edible fungus back home.

Doctors at Hanover's medical university have drafted posters in many languages, including Persian and Arabic, to inform migrants about potential dangers of consuming the mushroom.

Symptoms of death cap poisoning

The death cap, scientifically known as amanita phalloides, is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in Germany and responsible for 90 percent of domestic deaths involving mushroom poisoning. The fungi are often confused with button mushrooms, commonly used in the kitchen.

Symptoms of death cap poisoining show up many hours after consuming the mushroom and include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

After two days, the liver begins to get affected, accompanied by problems in the kidney and blood clotting. In worst cases, the liver stops functioning completely and the patient dies if a transplant is impossible.

mg/msh (KNA, dpa)