We report a case of homicidal paraquat poisoning preceded by attempted manual strangulation. The poison had been forcibly ingested when the victim was unconscious due to pressure on the neck. The victim survived for ten days and died due to development of fibrosing alveolitis. The autopsy showed classic features of proliferative stages of paraquat poisoning and healing signs of ligature strangulation.
ChandrasiriN. The first ever report of homicidal poisoning by intra muscular injection of gramoxone (paraquat). Ceylon Med J. 1999Mar; 44(1):36–9. PMID: 10643097.
HettiarachchiJKodithuwakkuGC. Pattern of poisoning in rural Sri Lanka. Int J Epidemiol. 1989Jun; 18(2):418–22. PMID: 2767856
. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/18.2.418.
4.
ValeJAMeredithTJBuckleyBM. Paraquat poisoning: clinical features and immediate general management. Hum Toxicol. 1987Jan; 6(1):41–7. PMID: 3546085
. https://doi.org/10.1177/096032718700600107.
5.
GawrammanaIBDawsonAH. Peripheral burning sensation: a novel clinical marker of poor prognosis and higher plasma-paraquat concentrations in paraquat poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2010May; 48(4):347–9. PMID: 20507246. PMCID: PMC3145098. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563651003641794.
6.
BatemanDN. New formulation of paraquat: a step forward but in the wrong direction?PLoS Med. 2008Feb; 5(2):e58. PMID: 18303945. PMCID: PMC2253614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050058.
7.
GawrammanaIBBuckleyNA. Medical management of paraquat poisoning. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011Nov; 72(5):745–57. PMID: 21615775. PMCID: PMC3243009. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.04026.x.
