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.
References
- Ozcan N, Ikinciogullari D. Ulusal Zehir Danışma Merkezi 2008 Yılı Çalışma Raporu Özeti. Türk Hij Den Biyol Derg. 2009; 66: 29-58.
- Karalliedde L. Organophosphorus poisoning and anaesthesia. Anaesthesia. 1999; 54: 1073-88.
- Yurumez Y, Durukan P, Yavuz Y, Ikizceli I, Avsarogullari L, Ozkan S, et al. Acute organophosphate poisoning in university hospital emergency room patients. Intern Med. 2007; 46: 965-9.
- Robey CW, Meggs WJ, section 15: Toxicology, chapter 195: Pesticides. Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski JS,Cline MD, Ma JO, Cydulka RK, Merckler GD. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine 7th New York: McGraw-Hill CO 2010: 15: 1297-305.
- Malla G, Basnet B, Vohra R, Lohani SP, Yadav A, Dhungana V. Parenteral organophosphorus poisoning in a rural emergency department: a case report. BMC Res Notes. 2013; 6: 524.
- Kozaci N, Acikalin AA, Satar S, Icme F. Causes of death and treatment of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning. JAEM. 2012; 11: 176-82.
- Singh S, Sharma N. Neurological syndromes following organophosphate poisoning. Neurol India. 2000; 48: 308-13.
- Kass R, Kochar G, Lippman M. Adult respiratory distress syndrome from organophosphate poisoning. Am J Emerg Med. 1991; 9: 32-3.
Abstract
References
- Ozcan N, Ikinciogullari D. Ulusal Zehir Danışma Merkezi 2008 Yılı Çalışma Raporu Özeti. Türk Hij Den Biyol Derg. 2009; 66: 29-58.
- Karalliedde L. Organophosphorus poisoning and anaesthesia. Anaesthesia. 1999; 54: 1073-88.
- Yurumez Y, Durukan P, Yavuz Y, Ikizceli I, Avsarogullari L, Ozkan S, et al. Acute organophosphate poisoning in university hospital emergency room patients. Intern Med. 2007; 46: 965-9.
- Robey CW, Meggs WJ, section 15: Toxicology, chapter 195: Pesticides. Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski JS,Cline MD, Ma JO, Cydulka RK, Merckler GD. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine 7th New York: McGraw-Hill CO 2010: 15: 1297-305.
- Malla G, Basnet B, Vohra R, Lohani SP, Yadav A, Dhungana V. Parenteral organophosphorus poisoning in a rural emergency department: a case report. BMC Res Notes. 2013; 6: 524.
- Kozaci N, Acikalin AA, Satar S, Icme F. Causes of death and treatment of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning. JAEM. 2012; 11: 176-82.
- Singh S, Sharma N. Neurological syndromes following organophosphate poisoning. Neurol India. 2000; 48: 308-13.
- Kass R, Kochar G, Lippman M. Adult respiratory distress syndrome from organophosphate poisoning. Am J Emerg Med. 1991; 9: 32-3.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Case Reports |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | April 25, 2015 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2015 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 |
