Fire Coral Fungus

There are thousands of mushroom species worldwide, and while some are edible and tasty, many are extremely hazardous. The symptoms vary from mushroom to mushroom, although they frequently include vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Toxic mushrooms can induce organ failure and death. In that sense, fire coral fungus is similar to many mushroom relatives. However, fire coral fungus can wreak havoc.

Most mushrooms must be consumed in order to cause harm. Not the case with fire coral. Mycotoxins produced by it can be absorbed through the skin. And the harm it causes when consumed is significantly greater than that of most other mushrooms. Sure, there's the excruciating agony and vomiting, but there's also hair loss, peeling skin, and even cerebellar shrinkage. This can lead to problems with mobility, speech, and perception. If enough has been consumed, the person might also expect to suffer from necrosis and, eventually, death. Progression of symptoms is also a mixed bag. Some people showed no symptoms at all for weeks after eating the mushrooms before it hit them.