Two toddlers rushed to emergency room after eating chocolate spiked with hallucinogenic mushrooms

Two children hospitalized after eating chocolate with hallucinogenic mushrooms

Two children, ages 5 and 6, are in pediatric intensive care at Galilee Medical Center with hallucinations and dilated pupils after eating chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms during a vacation in Achziv

Children ate chocolate on vacation and began hallucinating

Two children, ages five and six, were exposed during a family vacation to chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms and hospitalized.

Two toddlers rushed to emergency room after eating chocolate spiked with hallucinogenic mushrooms

The children, aged five-and-a-half and six-and-a-half, have been placed under close observation in the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).

Israeli Family Vacation Turns Frightening as Young Children Hallucinate After Eating Mushroom-Laced Chocolate

Two young children were hospitalized Sunday after they apparently consumed chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms while on a family vacation, leaving them confused, suffering hallucinations and displaying severely dilated pupils. The children, ages five and six, were brought to the Galilee Medical Center, where doctors conducted an initial evaluation. Medical staff determined that their breathing and cardiovascular functions were stable, though both children were experiencing significant neurological symptoms. Doctors consulted with the National Poison Information Center and came to suspect poisoning caused by Psilocybe/Panaeolus mushrooms. The mushrooms contain psychoactive compounds capable of triggering hallucinations and increased blood pressure and, in more serious cases, seizures and heart-related complications. Because doctors were concerned that additional symptoms could emerge, both children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, where they were placed under close observation and monitoring. Dr. Sally Mahoum, a physician at the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Center, said: “The children arrived in a state of confusion, with dilated pupils and active hallucinations. We immediately took steps to stabilize them and, in coordination with the National Poison Information Center, began treatment and monitoring. Due to the unpredictable nature of this type of poisoning, they were transferred for continued observation in the pediatric intensive care unit.” Dr. Tzvi Sheleg, deputy director of the Galilee Medical Center, said: “This was a serious, life-threatening incident that, thus far, has ended without critical harm thanks to the parents’ alertness and the rapid treatment provided by our medical teams. We call on the public to exercise the utmost responsibility, keep dangerous substances out of the reach of toddlers and children, and seek immediate medical attention whenever poisoning is suspected.” {Matzav.com}