Paraquat poisoning by skin absorption: report of two cases

Two cases of paraquat poisoning resulting from skin absorption are reported. One patient died from respiratory failure 26 d after deliberate application of the herbicide onto his whole body as a treatment for scabies. The other patient developed extensive dermatitis (probably a complication of pre-existing psoriasis). Only a moderate and transitory impairment of this latter patient's renal and respiratory functions were observed after repeated exposure of his damaged skin to a dilute paraquat spray.