Wild mushroom (macrofungi) picking has become a popular activity in Israel in recent years. Besides the estimated 135 edible species, the mycobiota of Israel includes also around 65 poisonous and potentially dangerous species. We conducted a long-term retrospective study to monitor the frequency, severity, seasonal character, species composition, and geographic distribution of mushroom exposure and poisoning in Israel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Most calls to poison information centers are from the public, pertaining to young children, and due to minor or nontoxic exposures. Rational poison center consultations can prevent unnecessary visits to emergency departments (EDs), callers' adherence to such advice is required.
Objectives: Estimate adherence of callers from the public to the poison center concerning exposures of young children to the advice provided by the clinical toxicologist, estimate the number of unnecessary ED visits of these children prevented by poison center consultations.
The Mediterranean region is, by far, a prime travel destination, having hosted more than 330 million tourists in 2016, mostly for seaside holidays. A greatly increased influx of thermophilic Red Sea species, introduced through the Suez Canal in a process referred to as Lessepsian invasion (in honor of Ferdinand de Lesseps who instigated the building of the Suez Canal), have raised awareness among scientists, medical personnel, and the public, of health risks caused by some venomous and poisonous marine species. The main species of concern are the poisonous Lagocephalus sceleratus, and the venomous Plotosus lineatus, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Pterois miles, Synancea verrucosa, Rhopilema nomadica, Macrorhynchia philippina and Diadema setosum.
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