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Methamidophos poisoning: A paediatric case report.
Pierre de Villiers1, Noor Parker1, Roland van Rensburg2
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Toxicology Reports
|January 4, 2024
Summary
A child experienced severe poisoning from methamidophos, an organophosphate pesticide, with prolonged effects lasting 10 days. This case highlights risks associated with acephate use in South Africa.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Paediatric Medicine
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Methamidophos is a highly hazardous organophosphate pesticide.
- Methamidophos use is prohibited in South Africa, leading to limited local data.
- Acephate, a common agricultural organophosphate in South Africa, is metabolized to methamidophos.
Observation:
- A paediatric case of methamidophos poisoning with prolonged clinical effects is presented.
- The patient exhibited an acute cholinergic toxidrome lasting 10 days.
- A period of near-full recovery was observed during the 10-day toxidrome.
Findings:
- The study details a rare paediatric case of methamidophos poisoning.
- Prolonged cholinergic toxidrome was observed, lasting 10 days.
- Biological plausibility of methamidophos as an acephate byproduct is discussed.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for methamidophos poisoning from acephate use.
- Closer monitoring of organophosphate poisoning patients is crucial in areas with common acephate use.
- The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and data on paediatric organophosphate toxicity.
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