Subacute pulmonary manifestation in a survivor of severe paraquat intoxication

Am J Med Sci. 2005 Nov;330(5):254-6. doi: 10.1097/00000441-200511000-00011.

Abstract

Paraquat has been widely used as a nonselective contact herbicide since 1962. It is highly toxic for humans, and many cases of acute poisoning, especially intentional self-poisoning, have been reported over the past few decades in developing countries. Ingestion of a threshold volume results in multiple organ failure and death after a longer period of time, but aggressive clinical studies are rarely done when the diagnosis is clear. We report the case of a patient who survived severe paraquat intoxication; he presented with subacute pulmonary manifestations including physiologic dysfunction and abnormalities on radiographs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Herbicides / poisoning*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Paraquat / poisoning*
  • Poisoning / complications
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • Radiography
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Herbicides
  • Paraquat