Paraquat Poisoning

Paraquate , a highly toxic herbecide which was once used alot in USA.

Its use declined when found dangerous to the worker who use it to the plants.

Now it has been restricted to commercial sell.

Breathing in paraquat may cause lung damage.It causes damage to whole body

when it touches to esophagus, stomach, intestine.

It also damage to liver, kidney. If swallowed , death occurs rapidly.

Chronic exposure causes lung fibrosis-- called paraquat lung.

Symptoms

• Burns in throat
• Coma
• difficulty in breathing
• Nosebleed
• Seizures
• Shock
• Sore throat
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
  
  
  There is no specific treatment for Paraquat poisoning. The goal is to relieve symptoms and treat complications (supportive care).
  Remove all contaminated clothing.
  If the chemical touched your skin, wash the area with soap and water for 15 minutes, without scrubbing hard, so as not to cause abrasions which will allow greater absorption of the toxin.
  If there has been contamination of the eyes, flush them with water for 15 minutes.
  If you have swallowed Paraquat, you should receive activated charcoal as quickly as possible. Sicker patients may need a procedure called hemoperfusion, which filters the blood through charcoal to try to remove Paraquat from the lungs.
  
  
  
  
  Complication:
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Holes in the esophagus
  • Inflammation of the area between the lungs 
  • Kidney failure
  • Scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)