Deliberate self-poisoning with organophosphate and carbamate insecticides is responsible for more than 100,000 deaths worldwide each year. Although agent-dependent variations in clinical features occur, these agents generally cause death by respiratory failure. Attention to the principles of resuscitation and supportive together with use of antidotes (atropine and pralidoxime) is essential to achieve a good outcome.
References
- Buckley NA, Eddleston M, Szinicz L. Oximes for acute organophosphate poisoning. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006; 1..
- Eddleston M, Eyer P, Worek F et al. Differences between organophoshorus insecticides in human self-poisoning: a prospective cohort study. Lancet 2005; 366:1452-1459.
- Eddleston M, Szinicz L, Eyer P et al. Oximes in acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: a systematic review of clinical trials. Quarterly Journal of Medicine 2002; 95:275-283.
- Eddleston M, Eyer P, Worek F et al. Pralidoxime in acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning – a randomised controlled trial. PLoS Medicine. 2009; 6(6):e1000104. Published online 2009 June 30.
- Little M, Murray L. Consensus statement: risk of nosocomial organophosphate poisoning in emergency departments. Emergency Medicine Australasia 2004; 16:456-458.
- Roberts DM, Aaron CK. Management of acute organophosphorus pesticde poisoning. British Medical Journal 2007; 334(7594):629-634.
About Mike Cadogan
