Citation

Ravi Kumar R, Punitha R. Internet J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2016; 17(2).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Anil Aggrawal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride) is a herbicide used to prepare land or control weeds in major food crops. Although banned in many countries, including the entire EU, But in a number of developing countries plantation workers and small farmers spray Paraquat to kill weeds. They are highly effective pesticides, but have been reportedly used for deliberate self harm in many parts of the world including India. As a result, several ten thousand people are poisoned every year and become ill. Thousands die a painful accidental death or commit suicide. There is no specific antidote available for Paraquat poisoning. It is important to establish the diagnosis early and to pursue aggressive decontamination and prevention of further absorption. However, high mortality rate is associated with Paraquat poisoning in spite of advances in treatment and supportive care. If paraquat was banned worldwide and so no longer available, many thousands of lives would be saved, whether from occupational poisoning, suicide, or accidents to children. We describe two cases of paraquat poisoning who developed serious toxicity following its ingestion and died of respiratory failure. © 2017, Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; female; male; multiple organ failure; shock; autopsy; case report; Acute respiratory distress syndrome; death; vomiting; physical examination; patient referral; stomach lavage; intensive care unit; palliative therapy; hypotension; heart arrest; acute kidney failure; artificial ventilation; lung edema; acetylcysteine; Herbicide; respiratory failure; deterioration; metabolic acidosis; intravenous drug administration; methylprednisolone; esophagus injury; laboratory test; lactic acidosis; stomach injury; oxygen therapy; respiratory distress; pantoprazole; Article; consciousness level; hypokalemia; intubation; blood cell count; pharynx disease; arterial gas; cyclophosphamide; paraquat poisoning; fluid resuscitation; fatty liver; dialysis catheter; young adult; pleura effusion; digestive tract endoscopy; hypertensive agent; Multi-organ failure; tertiary care center; Acute kidney Injury; duodenum corrosive injury; duodenum injury; esophagus corrosive injury; estomach corrosive injury; hard palate corrosive injury; oxygen desaturation; palate disease; pharynx corrosive injury