What is the potential consequence of untreated mushroom toxin exposure?

The potential consequence of untreated mushroom toxin exposure can be severe, including the risk of death. Certain mushrooms contain highly toxic compounds that can lead to severe liver and kidney damage, neurological symptoms, or gastrointestinal distress, depending on the type of toxin present. If individuals do not receive timely medical treatment after consuming a toxic mushroom, the toxins can rapidly cause significant harm to major organs, potentially resulting in fatal outcomes.

While recovery from mild gastrointestinal symptoms could occur if the exposure involved a less harmful mushroom, this is not the case for most toxic species. The severity of the toxins typically found in many mushrooms, such as those from the Amanita genus, underscores the importance of immediate medical intervention. Thus, untreated exposure indeed poses a serious risk, including the possibility of death, making that choice the most accurate answer in this context.