title: Clinical observation of 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test. They persistently manifested helplessness, depression, and anxiety. The results of both psychological assessment and general physical examination revealed the following clinical features: depression (8 cases), multiple chemical hypersensitivity syndrome (2 cases), alcoholism (1 case), and religious preoccupation (1 case).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In those living in the western rural area of South Korea, depression is a prominent ongoing presentation in pesticide-exposed farmers, in addition to unexplainable physical symptoms.
authors: Departments of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital, Chunan, Korea.
authors: Zoong-Rock
authors: ZR
authors: Hong
authors: So-Young
authors: SY
authors: Hong
authors: Mi-Jung
authors: MJ
authors: Han
authors: Hae-seung
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Hyo-Ook
authors: HO
authors: Gil
authors: Jong-O
authors: JO
authors: Yang
authors: En-Yung
authors: EY
authors: Lee
authors: Sae-Yong
authors: SY
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011581:Psychological Tests
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides