• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2004

Purpose: Paraquat is the most commonly used herbicide in Korea. Exposure to paraquat through the skin has resulted in local irritation or inflammation of varying degree, sometimes severe. The purpose of this study was to review the patients with paraquat poisoning by skin absorption. Methods: We analysed retrospectively the clinical and laboratory findings of 45 patients with paraquat poisoning after dermal exposure, who were admitted to Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from January 1999 to December 2003. Results: Among 870 cases of paraquat poisoning, 45 cases were exposed to paraquat through the skin. The peak incidence was the fifth decade($40\%$). The clinical symptoms were pain, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting. The major skin lesions were generalized vesicobullae and necrotic erosion in face, scrotum, trunk, upper and lower extremities and etc. All patients were survived after skin contact or inhalation of paraquat. Conclusion: This study illustrates the extreme toxicity of paraquat and demonstrates that lethal quantities of paraquat may be absorbed if repeated exposure to it. Stricter precautions, including the mandatory use of protective clothing, should be recommended whenever this material is used.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2011

Purpose: Most paraquat poisonings are easily diagnosed by history taking on physical examination, however, some are failed to be diagnosed initially if the poisoning was veiled. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of veiled paraquat poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients whose discharge diagnosis was paraquat poisoning in one university teaching hospital between 1 Jan, 2001 and 31 Dec, 2010. Veiled paraquat poisoning was determined when there was a positive urine paraquat kit in patients who did not mention paraquat poisoning in an initial physical examination or had unknown cause of pulmonary fibrosis, acute renal failure, or multi-organ failure. Results: Of the 117 patients with paraquat poisoning during the study period, 6 patients (5.1%) had veiled paraquat poisoning. The clinical characteristics were 1) proteinuria - 6 (100%), 2) increased creatinine - 4 (66.7%), 3) green skin stains - 2 (33.3%), 4) mucosal ulcer - 3 (50%). Blood chemistry results were variable. Conclusion: We should suspect veiled paraquat poisoning for patients who have proteinuria, increased creatinine, green skin stain, mucosal ulcer and vomiting, or if they have rapidly progressing acute renal failure or multi-organ failure with unknown cause, even if patients didn't mention about paraquat poisoning upon the initial physical examination. In cases with the above clinical conditions, a thorough repeated physical examination including history taking and use of urine paraquat kits should be performed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Purpose: Paraquat, a globally used herbicide, is highly toxic to human beings. Hence, we reviewed some cases of paraquat poisoning in Korea. Methods: We analyzed the clinical and laboratory findings of 50 patients poisoned with paraquat retrospectively. The patients were admitted to the department of internal medicine in the Eumseong KeumWang hospital from January 2008 to December 2008. Results: Among 50 cases of paraquat poisoning, 28 cases were male. Twenty-four cases (48%) were over 60 years old. Fourty-nine patients ingested paraquat on purpose as suicidal attempts, while 1 patient underwent accidental ingestion. Seven patients swallowed less than one mouthful of paraquat, of which 4 patients survived. Eleven patients swallowed two mouthfuls of paraquat, of which 8 patients survived. Thirty-two patients swallowed over three mouthfuls of paraquat and they all died. Thirty-one patients with leukocytosis died. Twenty-one patients with metabolic acidosis died. Increased levels of blood amylase and glucose were related to high mortality, and increased level of blood creatinine was related to severe mortality. Hemoperfusions were accomplished in 27 patients of paraquat poisoning, of which 12 patients survived. Conclusion: Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide. When patients arrive at the hospital, laboratory findings, urine paraquat concentrations, arrival time, and the amount of paraquat consumed must be considered for treatment plan.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2004

Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in human. Many treatment modality has been used, but now paraquat is very fatal drug. Elimination rate of plasma paraquat seems to be a factor for the survival rate. So early diagnosis and early treatment are very important. Plasma paraquat concentration could be measured by radioimmunoassay. But it is impossible that the test was done at Emergency room and the result was checked immediately. There was relation between plasma paraquat concentrations and urine paraquat concentration. Because of its simplicity and low cost, urine paraquat concentration test is complementary to the plasma concentration measurement. If the patient has psychotic problem or unconscious mental state, and is observed unexplained dyspnea and oral ulcer, urine paraquat test is very important to rule out acute paraquat intoxication. We experienced a patient who was presented as unexplained acute renal failure initially and was diagnosed as paraquat intoxication later.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.276-285
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• 2000

Paraquat is a very potent herbicide which causes fatal toxicity when ingested, and there is no specific antidote against it. Human ingestion induces acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction and progressive respiratory failure with high mortality rate. Clinical investigation and medical treatment were done on two cases of acute renal failure caused by paraquat poisoning admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Oriental Chonju Medical Hospital. We report two cases of patients who survived after acute paraquat intoxication, by means of oriental medicine such as Gamdutang, a typical antidote of toxins, chinese ink as an absorbent and burned powder of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma for laxative and so on, western medicine such as gastric lavage, diuretics and fluid therapy. We suggest more experiments and studies related to such treatment for paraquat poisoning be conducted.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.107-109
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• 2005

Paraqaut, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in human. Most of paraquat intoxications happen through oral administration. But there is no clinical data for parenteral paraquat intoxication. A 35-year-old male injected paraquat solution on his forearm. He visited emergency room within 10 minutes and was treated with tourniquet, incision, washing and suction. After eight days, the patient was discharged without respiratory symptoms and complications. In treatment of parenteral paraquat intoxication, first aid was very important and the treatment should include tourniquet, incision, washing and suction in order to delay absorptions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2 s.28
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• pp.132-142
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• 1994

Paraquat has been widely used as a herbicide in Korea since 1970. Human ingestion results in transient impairment of liver and kidney function and a characteristically respiratory failure with a high mortality rate. Clinical investigation and Oriental Medical Treatment were done on 3 cases of paraquat poisoning admitted to the department of 1st Internal Medicine. Kyung San University Oriental Medical Hospital from August 1991 to December 1992. and following results were obtained. The symptoms of paraquat poisoning can be regarded as Sim hua chi song(心火熾盛), Kan hua sang yom(肝火上炎). um hu hua wang(陰虛火旺), Kan tam sup yol(肝膽濕熱), Yang myong yol tok(陽明熱毒) in Oriental Medicine. and the principle of treatment for paraquat poisoning can be applicable to Chong yol Ii sop(淸熱利濕), Chong yol hae tok(淸熱解毒). Sa ha hae tok(瀉下解毒). Ja um kang hua(滋陰降火) and so on. Three cases were treated by HuangYonHaeTokTang(黃蓮解毒湯) and KamDuTang(甘豆湯): all of them have survived without complications. According to the result above, it suggests that determination of treatment based on the differentiation of symptoms and signs(Pyon jung si chi ;辨證施治) of Oriental Medicine may prove to be helpful in saving lives of patients with paraquat poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2007

Paraquat poisoning is a fatal type of herbicide intoxication. It is characterized by multi-organ failure and pulmonary fibrosis with respiratory failure. Intravenous and intramuscular injection of paraquat is rarely described. However, We encountered two fatal cases of acute poisoning caused by paraquat injection. Two patients were admitted to our emergency unit after intravenous and intramuscular injection of 23.8% paraquat (about 476 mg of paraquat). A 37-year-old man diluted 2 ml of 23.8% paraquat solution with 1 ml of normal saline and injected it both intravenously into his left antecubital fossa and intramuscularly into his abdomen in a suicide attempt. He died 5 days later from respiratory failure and acute renal failure. A 92-year-old man was injected intravenously into his right antecubital fossa by his grandson with 2 ml of 23.8% paraquat solution diluted with 1 ml of normal saline. He died 2 days later from early circulatory collapse and multi-organ failure (metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure, coagulopathy). Intravenous and intramuscular injection with a small quantity of paraquat resulted in fatal toxicity in our patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.4 s.28
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• pp.454-465
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• 1989

In a small island community with a population of less than 100 residents, nine persons died and five experienced severe illnesses during the period from November 1986 to May 1988. Their initial symptoms were sore throat and fever. Renal failure and hepatitis developed within one week after the onset. Oral mucosal ulcer developed in some cases. After one week, progressive respiratory failure and dyspnea developed evidently and severe respiratory distress and hypoxia preceded those fatal cases. Chest X-ray findings revealed bilateral diffuse multiple cystic lesion with occasional multiple large emphysematous bullae. Based on these features paraquat poisoning was diagnosed and route of poisoning was investigated. In three sources of drinking water, trace amount of paraquat was detected in November 1988, six months after the incidence of recent fatal case. In November 1988, soybean sauces and soybean pastes from 12 households were found contaminated with high concentration of paraquat, the cause could not be identified. The possibility of the contamination of drinking water as the cause of this mass poisoning has been suggested.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1694-1700
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• 2005

Paraquat is a nonselective contact herbicide that may induced damage to many organs poisoned with it. But there is no effective treatment modality. This report is about one case of treatment for paraquat poisoning. The patient was hospitalized of Wonkwang university Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital at the department of Internal Medicine. For 26 days of hospitalization period, the authors supplied gamdutanggami(甘豆湯加味), which consists of Radix glycyrrhizae(甘草), Semen Glycine(黑豆), burned powder of Rhizoma rhei(大黃沙炭末), Succus phyllostachyos(竹瀝) and chinese ink(墨汁), decoction of Galla chinensis(五倍子) and Radix glycyrrhizae(甘草), and fluid. And then he showed improvement of condition and returned to a daily life. This report has a limitation for proof of oriental medicine remedial value. Because this is the only one case of a small quantity of paraquat poisoning patient less than 20cc. Actually there are a few paper regarding the Oriental medicine remedial value in paraquat poisoning patient, so we hope luther study and report ensue.