Clinical Aspects of the Chlorophenoxy Herbicide Intoxicated Patients

Chlorophenoxy계 제초제 중독 환자 임상 양상

  • Cho, Young-Soon (Department of Emergency Medicine, Sooncunhyang university hospital, Bucheon) ;
  • Kim, Ho-Jung (Department of Emergency Medicine, Sooncunhyang university hospital, Bucheon) ;
  • Oh, Bum-Jin (Department of Emergency Medicine, Asan Medica Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Suh, Joo-Hyun (Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science) ;
  • Kwon, Woon-Yong (Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Joon-Seok (Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Konyang University) ;
  • Eo, Eun-Kyung (Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Lee, Mi-Jin (Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Konyang University) ;
  • Lee, Sung-Woo (Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Roh, Hyung-Keun (Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science) ;
  • Lim, Hoon (Department of Emergency Medicine, Sooncunhyang university hospital, Bucheon)
  • 조영순 (순천향대학교 부천병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 김호중 (순천향대학교 부천병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 오범진 (울산의대 서울아산병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 서주현 (가천의과대학교 내과학교실) ;
  • 권운용 (서울대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실) ;
  • 박준석 (건양대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실) ;
  • 어은경 (이화여자대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 이미진 (건양대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실) ;
  • 이성우 (고려대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실) ;
  • 노형근 (가천의과대학교 내과학교실) ;
  • 임훈 (순천향대학교 부천병원 응급의학과)
  • Published : 2007.12.31

Abstract

Purpose: There have been relatively few reports of chlorophenoxy herbicide poisoning. The purpose of this study is to analyze the general characteristics and clinical aspects of the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated patients in Korea. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated patients visiting to the 38 emergency medical centers in Korea from the 1 August 2005 to the 31 July 2006. Results: 24 patients were enrolled during the study periods. Their mean age was 55.7 years old. The median amount of the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated is 150 mL. The most frequent location where the patients obtained and took the chlorophenoxy herbicide was their home. Frequent compounds involving chlorophenoxy herbicide poisoning were dicamba(66.7%), MCPP(16.7%), and 2,4-D(12.5%). The most common symptom of the patients was confusion and vomiting. 16 patients(66.7%) intended to suicide. 3 patients out of 24 patients(13.0%) were died. Conclusion: There were 24 patients intoxicated by the chlorophenoxy herbicide during the study periods. The mortality rate was 13.0%. The suicidal attempts and the numbers of death involving chlorophenoxy herbicide were high in Korea.

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