Delayed organophosphate - induced polyneuropathy

Abstract

Introduction: Intoxication with organophosphate compounds used for pest control is common in Turkey. Organophosphate intoxication may occur during agricultural spraying, transport of organophosphate compounds, or domestic accidents, although suicide attempts are the most common way of intoxication.

Case Presentation: We present a 23-year-old woman ingested a fistful of painkillers and drank a sip of an unknown syrup after having a quarrel with her family. Four hours later, she had been taken to a nearby hospital with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, where she had been treated for drug intoxication at an intensive care unit for 2 days and discharged uneventfully. About 18 days after drug intoxication she began noticing headache and weakness and numbness in her arms and legs. A detailed patient history taken in the emergency department indicated that the syrup she had taken for suicidal purpose was an organophosphate compound. An organophosphate –induced polyneuropathy was primarily considered.

Conclusions: In intoxication cases, package of the ingested compound should be inspected to determine the culprit molecule whenever possible. Organophosphate intoxication should always be remembered in the differential diagnosis of intoxication cases even when no specific compound could be determined since suicidal attempts with agricultural pesticide compounds are common in Turkey. 

Keywords

• Late onset; Organophosphate poisoning; Polyneuropathy

Delayed organophosphate induced polyneuropathy

Öz

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