A person who eats shiitake mushrooms may develop a toxin-induced dermatitis.
Species: Lentinus edodes
Toxin: lentinan, which is a beta-glucan polysaccharide that breaks down on heating (heat sensitive)
Clinical features:
(1) The patient has a history of recently eating raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms.
(2) The patient develops a linear erythematous eruption resembling whip marks (flagellate).
(3) The patient may also develop a dermatitis after handling raw mushrooms.
(4) The lesions are pruritic, which may be severe.
(5) The patient shows variable photosensitivity.
The rash is transient if the exposure is discontinued.
The diagnosis is supported if there is no other explanation that can explain the findings better.
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
