A 2-year-old boy was accidentally poisoned by one spoonful of organophosphate insecticide and presented in cardiac arrest. Spontaneous circulation was restored after initial resuscitation and antidote therapy (atropine and pralidoxime) but the boy finally succumbed with multiple complications. We reviewed the literature on the clinical features and management of acute organophosphate poisoning, and the appropriate protective equipment for preventing secondary poisoning of healthcare workers.
JeyaratnamJ.Acute pesticide poisoning: a major global health problem.World Health Stat Q1990; 43(3): 139–44.
2.
LitovitzT.L., Klein-SchwartzW., WhiteS.1999 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System.Am J Emerg Med2000; 18(5): 517–74.
3.
SenanayakeN., KarallieddeL.Acute poisoning in Sri Lanka: an overview.Ceylon Med J1986; 31(2): 61–71.
4.
ChanT.Y., CritchleyJ.A.Hospitalizations due to acute pesticide poisoning in Hong Kong.Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health1993; 24(4): 769–71.
5.
ZwienerR.J., GinsburgC.M.Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning in infants and children.Pediatrics1988; 81(1): 121–6.
6.
Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.Fact sheet and report of minimal risk levels for hazardous substances. Dec 2001.
7.
MintonN.A., MurrayV.S.A review of organophosphate poisoning.Med Toxicol Adverse Drug Exp1988; 3(5): 350–75.
8.
BardinP.G., van EedenS.F., MoolmanJ.A., FodenA.P., JoubertJ.R.Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.Arch Intern Med1994; 154(13): 1433–41.
9.
KwongT.C.Organophosphate pesticides: biochemistry and clinical toxicology.Ther Drug Monit2002; 24(1): 144–9.
LifshitzM., ShahakE., SoferS.Carbamate and organophosphate poisoning in young children.Pediatr Emerg Care1999; 15(2): 102–3.
14.
ChuangF.R., JangS.W., LinJ.L., ChernM.S., ChenJ.B., HsuK.T.QTc prolongation indicates a poor prognosis in patients with organophosphate poisoning.Am J Emerg Med1996; 14(5): 451–3.
15.
National Poisons Information Service; Association of Clinical Biochemists.Laboratory analyses for poisoned patients: joint position paper.Ann Clin Biochem2002; 39(Pt 4): 328–39.
16.
ZwienerR.J., GinsburgC.M.Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning in infants and children.Pediatrics1988; 81(1): 121–6.