PARAQUAT: A FATAL POISON

Abstract

Paraquat is a toxic herbicidal poison. Exposure to even minimal dose can prove fatal. Unavailability of antidote makes management of these patients difficult, making it highly fatal compound. We present you a case series of 9 patients who had exposure of paraquat compound which had fatal outcome in majority of patients. 66.7 (n=6) were male and 33 % (n=33%) were female. The case fatality rate was 66.7% (n=6). More the quantity of the consumption higher the chances of the death was seen. Patients who survived consumed less than 15 ml of paraquat compound. Pulmonary involvement was seen in 55.5% (n=5) patients. With onset of pulmonary involvement, severe ARDS was seen within shorter time span of 6 to 12 hours. All the patients who had pulmonary involvement eventually succumbed. Renal involvement was seen in 66.7% (n=6) patients. The mean creatinine was 3.2 mg/dl. Among the patients with renal involvement (n=6), 3 patients died (50%). Hepatic involvement was seen in 1 patient.