Friday, February, 10, 2012

Insecticide

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Organophosphate poisoning; Carbamate poisoning


Symptoms

Symptoms of pyrethrin poisoning:

  • Lungs and airways
    • Breathing difficulty
  • Nervous system
    • Coma
    • Convulsions
  • Skin
    • Irritation
    • Redness or swelling

Symptoms of organophosphate or carbamate poisoning:

  • Bladder and kidneys
    • Increased urination
  • Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • Increased salivation (drooling)
    • Increased tearing
    • Small pupils
  • Gastrointestinal
    • Abdominal cramps
    • Diarrhea
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
  • Heart and blood
    • Slow heart rate
  • Lungs and airways
    • Breathing difficulty
  • Nervous system
    • Anxiety
    • Coma
    • Convulsions
    • Dizziness
    • Headache
    • Weakness
  • Skin
    • Blue lips and fingernails

Note: Serious poisoning can occur from just touching the organophosphate without gloves or without washing hands soon after exposure. Large amounts of the chemical soak through the skin unless you are protected. Life-threatening paralysis and death can occur very quickly.

Symptoms of paradichlorobenzene poisoning:

  • Gastrointestinal
    • Abdominal pain
    • Diarrhea
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
  • Muscles
    • Muscle spasms

Note: Paradichlorobenzene mothballs are not very toxic. They have replaced the more toxic camphor and naphthalene types.


Review Date: 02/04/2010
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)