Organophosphate and carbamate intoxication in La Paz, Bolivia

Intoxication with organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CM) compounds is a common reason for presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) in La Paz, Bolivia. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics, presenting symptoms, and hospital course of patients presenting with OP or CM intoxication to the ED of the Hospital de Clinicas, La Paz, Bolivia, with the aim of determining which factors might predict a complicated hospital course. This was a retrospective chart review, using predefined criteria, of 300 patients who presented from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003. The intoxications were all oral, mostly intentional (97%), and in young patients (mean age 23.9 years, range 13-62 years). Females outnumbered males almost 2:1. The most common symptoms on presentation were abdominal pain (83%), nausea/vomiting (79%), miosis (72%), bronchorrhea (44%), diarrhea (41%), and fasciculations (31%). The most frequent complications were aspiration (18%), cardiopulmonary arrest (9%), and seizure (7%); mortality was 6%. Treatments included gastric lavage in 96% of patients, and atropine (median 5 mg per patient, range 0-48 mg). Miosis, bronchorrhea, diarrhea, and fasciculations at presentation were associated with a higher rate of complications. Although almost all intoxications were suicide attempts, less than half of patients received a psychiatric consultation. OP intoxication is a common cause of self-inflicted morbidity and mortality among young people in La Paz, Bolivia. Presence of miosis, bronchorrhea, diarrhea, and fasciculations at presentation suggest a higher likelihood of complications.