Paraquat

Paraquat is a widely-used herbicide that is potentially lethal following ingestion of as little as a mouthful. If the dose is insufficient to cause fulminating multi-organ failure and death, severe gastrointestinal corrosive injury and rapid onset of pulmonary fibrosis are common. Immediate decontamination and avoidance of supplemental oxygen therapy are the mainstays of treatment

References

• Dinis-Oliveira PJ, Duarte JA, Sanchez-Navarro A et al.  Paraquat poisonings: mechanisms of lung toxicity, clinical features and treatment.  Critical Reviews in Toxicology 2008; 38:13-71.
• Eddleston M, Wilks MF, Buckley NA. Prospects for treatment of paraquat–induced lung fibrosis with immunosuppressive drugs and the need for better prediction of outcome: a systematic review. Quarterly Journal of Medicine. 2003; 96(11):809-824.
• Senarathna L, Eddleston M, Wilks MF.  Prediction of outcome after paraquat poisoning by measurement of the plasma paraquat concentration.  Quartery Journal of Medicine 2009; 102:251-259.