title: Unintentional fatal phosphine gas poisoning of a family.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to report the toxicity of phosphine gas after a residential fumigation that resulted in fatal poisoning of a 15-month-old toddler and her 4-year-old sibling.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case report and a review of literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A family of 6 members was exposed to phosphine gas after their yard was treated with aluminum phosphide for a rodent infestation. The inhalation of phosphine gas initially caused symptoms of abdominal distress in all of the family members. Within 36 hours of exposure, the 4-year-old sibling died of cardiopulmonary failure in a local emergency department. After an initial presentation of respiratory distress, the 15-month-old toddler progressed to complete cardiopulmonary collapse and did not survive despite aggressive intervention including extracorporeal membrane life support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unintentional phosphine gas exposure is rare but has a toxic profile that results in a high fatality rate with no known antidote.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Don.vernon@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Tara J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schoolman
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jackman
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Vernon
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D000328:Adult; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004630:Emergencies; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005740:Gases; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010720:Phosphines / Q000506:poisoning*; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D005740:Gases; D010720:Phosphines; D012378:Rodenticides; C001864:aluminum phosphide