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PARATHION POISONING FROM FLANNELETTE SHEETS

L S ANDERSON, D L WARNER, J E PARKER

    Canadian Medical Association Journal
    |April 10, 1965
    PubMed

    Insights

    Two boys experienced severe respiratory distress due to accidental poisoning from parathion-contaminated flannelette sheets. This case highlights the dangers of organophosphate exposure and the importance of chemical testing for diagnosis.

    Area of Science:

    • Toxicology
    • Environmental Health
    • Pediatrics

    Background:

    • Two pediatric patients presented with coma and acute respiratory distress.
    • Initial improvement was followed by a relapse in one patient, prompting further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To identify the cause of acute poisoning in two young boys.
    • To investigate the source and nature of the toxic agent involved.

    Main Methods:

    • Clinical observation and patient history.
    • Chemical analysis of household items (flannelette sheets).
    • Tracing the origin and distribution of contaminated materials.

    Main Results:

    • The boys' symptoms were attributed to poisoning by organic phosphate ester, specifically parathion.
    • Contaminated flannelette sheets, exposed during ship transport, were identified as the source.
    • Parathion had been offloaded in California after a voyage from Antwerp.

    Conclusions:

    • Accidental exposure to parathion can cause severe poisoning in children.
    • Environmental contamination of consumer goods poses a significant health risk.
    • Prompt chemical testing and source identification are crucial for managing such poisoning incidents.

    Keywords:
    ATROPINEBEDDING AND LINENSBEDSCHILDDIAGNOSISDRUG THERAPYPARATHIONPOISONINGTOXICOLOGIC REPORT

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