Publication:

A study on clinical profile of paraquat poisoning in a tertiary care hospital

Background Paraquat poisoning is a weedicide used rarely for suicide. It is now being increasingly as this type of suicidal poisoning is almost always fatal as there is no specific antidote for paraquat poison. ARDS, acute kidney injury with metabolic acidosis or multi-organ failure are the frequent causes of mortality.

Methods The study aimed to study the morbidity and mortality rates of Paraquat poisoning in tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients admitted with Paraquat poisoning were included, and the data were collected and analysed.

Results The total number of cases admitted with paraquat poisoning in intensive care unit in three years duration were 10. All the cases were suicidal in nature. 80% of the cases had acute kidney injury with severe metabolic acidosis and 20% had mediastinitis. 70% of cases died within 48 hours of ingestion. The overall mortality rate was 100% in spite of active management.

Conclusions Of all registered herbicides, Paraquat is the most serious and life threatening. Inspite of early haemodialysis, steroids and cyclophosphamide therapy, it was ineffective in reducing the mortality rates. Newer treatment like early hemoperfusion may help to reduce the mortality in future.