Bilateral sudden deafness following combined insecticide poisoning

A case of combined poisoning due to exposure to an aerosol containing both malathion and methoxychlor (sold under the trade name Ortho TM Orchard Spray in the United States) ps presented. The following unusual features occurred in the course and outcome of the poisoning: slow onset of symptoms and signs, bilateral profound and permanent sensorineural hearing loss, and residual peripheral neuropathies in the extremites. The possible potentiation of the usually low toxicity of malathion is suggest and discussed.