Insecticide
Definition
Poisoning caused by exposure to insecticide.
Poisonous
ingredient
Household bug sprays are fairly non-toxic chemicals
called pyrethrins (although these may cause
life-threatening asphyxiation if inhaled). Industrial
insecticides (which may OFTEN be found in household
garages and greenhouses) contain many extremely
toxic, life-threatening materials, including:
- organophosphates
- carbamates
- paradichlorobenzenes
Many new and extremely toxic insecticides
are continuously being developed.
Where
found
Symptoms
for organophosphate:
- body as a whole
- weakness
- sweating
- convulsions
- increased urination
- respiratory
- eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- small pupils
- increased tearing
- increased salivation
- skin
- blue lips and fingernails
- gastrointestinal
- loss of appetite
- abdominal cramps
- diarrhea
- nausea and/or vomiting
- nervous system
- headache
- anxiety
- dizziness
- coma
Note: Serious poisoning can occur from just handling
the organophosphate without gloves or without
washing hands soon after exposure. Significant
amounts are absorbed through the skin unless proper
precautions are observed. Life-threatening paralysis
and death can occur very quickly.
for carbamate:
- body as a whole
- weakness
- sweating
- convulsions
- increased urination
- respiratory
- eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- small pupils
- tearing, increased
- increased salivation
- skin
- blue lips and fingernails
- gastrointestinal
- loss of appetite
- abdominal cramps
- diarrhea
- nausea and/or vomiting
- nervous system
- headache
- anxiety
- dizziness
- coma
Note: Serious poisoning can occur from just handling
the carbamate without gloves or without washing
hands soon after exposure. Significant amounts
are absorbed through the skin unless proper precautions
are observed. Life-threatening symptoms may occur
very quickly.
for paradichlorobenzene:
- body as a whole
- convulsions
- muscle spasms
- gastrointestinal
- abdominal pain
- nausea and/or vomiting
- diarrhea
for pyrethrum (pyrethrin):
- respiratory
- asphixiation (in high doses)
- skin
- irritation
- skin redness or inflammation
- nervous system
Home
treatment
Seek emergency medical care
immediately. If the product is on the skin, wash
area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Mouth
to mouth resuscitation may be necessary if the
person stops breathing. These substances can be lethal
very quickly.
Before
calling emergency
Determine the following information:
- the patient’s age, weight, and condition
- the name of the product (ingredients and
strengths, if known)
- the time it was swallowed
- the amount swallowed
Call
poison control
See Poison Control centers
for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the
container with you to the emergency room.
What
to expect
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
- For swallowed poison
- Placement of a tube down the nose and
into the stomach (a nasogastric tube,
or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach
- Activated charcoal administration
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera
down the throat to see the extent of burns
to the esophagus and the stomach
- Give IV fluids
- Admission to the hospital
- Give an antidote
- Treat the symptoms
- For inhaled poisons
- A breathing tube may need to be inserted
- Oxygen
- Admission to the hospital or to the
intensive care unit
- Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down
the throat into the airway to evaluate
the extent of burns to the airway and
lungs)
- For skin exposure
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps
every few hours for several days
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of
burned skin)
- Admission or transfer to a hospital
that specializes in burn care
Prognosis
If an antidote is given quickly,
recovery is likely. Time to treatment is critical.
Continued improvement of symptoms over the first
4 to 6 hours under proper medical care usually
indicates that recovery will occur. Although the
symptoms are the same for carbamate and organophosphate,
the carbamate has a more favorable outcome.
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