Clinical observation of 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication.
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.
Hong
Zoong-Rock
ZR
Departments of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital, Chunan, Korea.
Hong
So-Young
SY
Han
Mi-Jung
MJ
Lee
Hae-seung
HS
Gil
Hyo-Ook
HO
Yang
Jong-O
JO
Lee
En-Yung
EY
Hong
Sae-Yong
SY
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
D010575:Pesticides