ABSTRACT
Introduction: The main cause of mushrooms poisoning is the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms after substitution with edible. Most deadly poisonings in Slovenia occur after ingesting Death Cap whose deadly poison amatoxin can cause hepatic failure. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma is to present the poisoning with Death Cap and appropriate first aid and treatment. The aims are to define the concepts of poisonous mushrooms, toxins and poisoning, to describe the symptoms and signs of poisoning with amatoxins and symptoms and signs of gastrointestinal syndrome, to present epidemiological data and frequency of mushroom poisoning, to describe first aid and emergency treatment after poisoning with Death Cap, to define the nurses role and to identify key preventive measures to prevent mushroom poisoning. Methods: A systematic review of scientific literature in Slovene and English language, published in the period between 2008 and 2018, was conducted. For basic literature in Slovenian language a national bibliographiccatalog database COBISS + was used. The basic literature in English was searched using the CINAHL, PubMed and Google scholar databases. Results: First aid in Death Cap poisoning begins at community with identification of poisoning, emergency life saving measures, removing poison from the oral cavity and the Regional Information Center call (telephone number 112) to activate a team of emergency medical help. Emergency treatment of amatoxin poisoning is symptomatic, encompassing the prevention of absorption of amatoxins, maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance and the prevention of liver cells damage with antidot. Acute liver failure is treated with transplantation. Discussion and conclusion: The Death Cap is one of the most toxic mushrooms in Slovenia. In order to ensure the health of population, the key is prevention of poisoning. In case of poisoning appropriate first aid is the key for good treatment outcome. Nurses are involved in first aid, emergency medical care and treatment: in the role of a dispatcher, a member of the emergency medical team in first aid, a member of the medical team at the Emergency Center and a member of the health team at the hospital department. Their role is to participate in the diagnostic and therapeutic program according to the doctor's instructions, to constantly monitor the symptoms and signs of poisoning and to report the changes in patient's health. In nursing continuous education and good knowledge of toxicology is important, as the amatoxin syndrome is very similar to the gastrointestinal, caused by ingestion of less toxic mushrooms. At the end of the hospital treatment nurses role is to teach the poisoned person and relatives about the principles of safe mushrooming and appropriate first aid when signs of poisoning with mushrooms occur.
|
