Zinc phosphide intoxication symptoms: analysis of 20 cases.
Twenty cases of zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) ingestion (self-poisoning) were seen during the last 5 years (January 1992-December 1996). Poisoning was rare before 1986. Profuse vomiting (100%), pain in abdomen (100%), palpitation and sweating (80%), dyspnea and tachypnea (75%), metabolic acidosis (60%), shock (40%), and hypotension (40%) were the most common presenting features. Five patients (25%) died. The toxic effects were due to liberation of toxic phosphine (PH3) gas which was detected by qualitative silver nitrate paper test in majority of cases.
Department of Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak (Haryana), India.
S N
SN
Chugh
H K
HK
Aggarwal
S K
SK
Mahajan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010720:Phosphines / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*
D010720:Phosphines; D012378:Rodenticides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C009701:zinc phosphide