"A serious and life-threatening incident": Two children hospitalized after eating chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms
Two children, aged five and a half and six and a half, were admitted to the Galilee Medical Center after consuming chocolate laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms. Due to the risk of further complications, they remain under close monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Two children were rushed to the Galilee Medical Center after consuming chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms. They arrived at the hospital suffering from severely dilated pupils and hallucinations. Medical staff suspected poisoning from Psilocybe or Panaeolus mushrooms. Due to the risk of developing further symptoms, both children were admitted for observation and close monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit.
"This is a serious and life-threatening incident that ended without critical damage," stated Dr. Zvi Sheleg, Deputy Director of the Galilee Medical Center.
The two children, aged five and a half and six and a half, from the center of the country, were evacuated on Sunday morning to the pediatric emergency department in Nahariya after eating a chocolate praline containing hallucinogenic mushrooms during a family vacation in Achziv. Upon arrival, medical staff identified clear neurological symptoms. Initial assessments confirmed that their respiratory and hemodynamic status remained stable.
"The children arrived in a state of confusion, with dilated pupils and active hallucinations," said Dr. Sally Mahoum, a physician in the pediatric emergency department. These mushrooms contain active substances that can trigger hallucinations, elevated blood pressure, and, in severe cases, seizures or cardiac damage.
"We acted immediately to stabilize them and, in coordination with the National Poison Center, began treatment and monitoring," Dr. Mahoum added. Given the volatile nature of this type of poisoning, the children were transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for continuous observation.
Dr. Zvi Sheleg noted that the incident concluded without critical harm thanks to the parents' alertness and the rapid response of the medical teams. He urged the public to exercise maximum caution, keep dangerous substances out of reach of children, and seek immediate medical attention if poisoning is suspected.
