Paraquat intoxication in Korea.
In this study, the authors explored acute paraquat intoxication and determined potential factors related to paraquat fatalities. During 1999, 154 patients with paraquat intoxication were admitted to the Institute of Pesticide Poisoning at the Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital. The authors assessed paraquat exposure by quantifying the amount of ingested paraquat and by semiquantitative assay of paraquat in urine. Outcomes of paraquat intoxication were categorized as recovery or death. Among all the patients, 139 (90.3%) were transferred from other medical facilities to the Institute of Pesticide Poisoning following a mean exposure time of 20.1 hr (standard deviation = 2.6 hr). Intentional ingestion of paraquat accounted for 73.4% (113/154 patients) of all paraquat poisonings, and it represented a significantly higher fatality rate (53.2%) than did accidental ingestion (19.1% [p < .001]). The overall paraquat fatality was 43.8%. Multiple logistic-regression analysis revealed that the risk of fatality increased significantly with (1) the quantity of paraquat ingested and (2) a positive urinary paraquat test. The results indicated that paraquat is potentially lethal in humans, and the risk of fatality is directly related to the amount ingested and absorbed.
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Institute of Pesticide Poisoning, Soonchunhyang University, Choongnam, Republic of Korea.
Kyu-Yoon
KY
Hwang
Eun-Young
EY
Lee
Sae-Yong
SY
Hong
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat