| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | Poisoning caused by exposure to insecticide. |
| Alternative Names | |
| Poisonous Ingredient | Household bug sprays are fairly non-toxic chemicals called pyrethrins (although these may cause life-threatening asphyxiation if inhaled). Industrial insecticides (which may OFTEN be found in household garages and greenhouses) contain many extremely toxic, life-threatening materials, including: organophosphates carbamates paradichlorobenzenes Many new and extremely toxic insecticides are continuously being developed. |
| Where Found | various insecticides |
| Symptoms | for organophosphate:
body as a whole
weaknesssweatingconvulsionsincreased urinationrespiratorydifficulty breathing eyes, ears, nose, and throat
small pupils increased tearingincreased salivation skin
blue lips and fingernails gastrointestinal
loss of appetiteabdominal crampsdiarrheanausea and/or vomiting nervous system
headacheanxietydizzinesscoma
Note: Serious poisoning can occur from just handling the organophosphate without gloves or without washing hands soon after exposure. Significant amounts are absorbed through the skin unless proper precautions are observed. Life-threatening paralysis and death can occur very quickly.
for carbamate:
body as a whole
weakness sweating convulsions increased urination respiratory
difficulty breathing eyes, ears, nose, and throat
small pupils tearing, increased increased salivation skin
blue lips and fingernails gastrointestinal
loss of appetite abdominal cramps diarrhea nausea and/or vomiting nervous system
headache anxiety dizziness coma
Note: Serious poisoning can occur from just handling the carbamate without gloves or without washing hands soon after exposure. Significant amounts are absorbed through the skin unless proper precautions are observed. Life-threatening symptoms may occur very quickly.
for paradichlorobenzene :
body as a whole
convulsions muscle spasms gastrointestinal
abdominal pain nausea and/or vomiting diarrhea
for pyrethrum (pyrethrin):
respiratory
asphyxiation (in high doses) skin
irritation skin redness or inflammation nervous system
convulsions coma |
| Home Treatment | Seek emergency medical care immediately. If the product is on the skin, wash area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Mouth to mouth resuscitation may be necessary if the person stops breathing. These substances can be lethal very quickly. |
| Before Calling Emergency | Determine the following information: the patient's age, weight, and condition the name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known) the time it was swallowed the amount swallowed |
| Poison Control, or a local emergency number | See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room. |
| What to expect at the emergency room | Some or all of the following procedures may be performed: For swallowed poison Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach Activated charcoal administration Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach Give IV fluids Admission to the hospital Give an antidote Treat the symptoms For inhaled poisons A breathing tube may need to be inserted Oxygen Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs) For skin exposure Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin) Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care |
| Expectations (prognosis) | If an antidote is given quickly, recovery is likely. Time to treatment is critical. Continued improvement of symptoms over the first 4 to 6 hours under proper medical care usually indicates that recovery will occur. Although the symptoms are the same for carbamate and organophosphate, the carbamate has a more favorable outcome. |
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