Affiliation:
1. Professor General Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College And Hospital
2. Senior Resident, Calcutta National Medical College And Hospital.
Abstract
Paraquat (1,1-dimethyl-4, 4-bipyridylium dichloride) is an effective herbicide which is widely used all over the world and India is no exception. It
is toxic to humans due to its redox activity which produces superoxide anions. Accidental or suicidal poisoning causes ulceration over the mouth
and gastrointestinal tract and the majority of patients die of acute renal failure, hepatic failure and acute lung injury causing mainly lung brosis and
consolidation. Treatment of paraquat poisoning is extremely difcult as it does not have any specic antidote. Treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Very few patients may develop spontaneous pneumothorax, known as Daisley Barton syndrome, which further impairs survival of the patient Here
we present a patient of paraquat induced spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax who survived with conservative treatment.