Clinical epidemiology and outcome of paraquat poisoning - A 12-year patient record based observational study

Paraquat (dipyridylium) is1-methyl-4-(1-methylpyridin-1-ium-4-yl) pyridin-1-ium a quaternary ammonium herbicide. It is a highly toxic herbicide primarily used to control grass and weeds. World health organization Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard identifies paraquat as class II moderately hazardous herbicide. Due to the lack of effective treatments to be used in humans for paraquat poisoning the mortality is high ranges from 60% to 80%. Present study has been designed to analyses all cases of paraquat poisoning admitted in department of emergency medicine Konaseema institute of medical science Amalapuram Andhra Pradesh, to know the clinicoepidemiological pattern and outcome of treatment.

This is a retrospective case record-based study conducted in the department of emergency medicine and general medicine Konaseema institute of medical science and research foundation Amalapuram India.

The amount of poison consumed was significantly higher among non-survivor (22.2 ± 12.2 ml vs 154.4 ± 99.0 ml). Fatality was more common, who has consumed paraquat with alcohol then those who has consumed without alcohol that was 72% patients.

From present study we can conclude that amount of paraquat consumed and time required to visit to the hospital (hrs) was significantly associate with higher incidence of death. Elevated liver enzyme and lung damage as visible in chest x ray is important predictor for mortality.