injuries and poisoning
Insecticide Poisoning
Introduction
Insecticides are chemicals used to kill insects. Some insecticides are also dangerous to humans. Many insecticides can cause poisoning after being swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Symptoms may include eye tearing, coughing, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. The diagnosis is based on symptoms, blood tests, and a description of events surrounding the poisoning. Several drugs are effective in treating serious insecticide poisonings. (See also Overview of Poisoning .) The properties that make insecticides deadly to insects can sometimes make them poisonous to humans. Most serious insecticide poisonings result from the organophosphate and carbamate types of insecticides, particularly when used in suicide attempts and, when accidental, in occupational settings. Organophosphates includemalathion, parathion, fenthion, dursban, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and sarin. Some of these compounds are derived from nerve gases. Carbamates include aldicarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, fenobucarb, and oxamyl. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids, which are other commonly used insecticides, are derived from flowers and usually are not very poisonous to humans (they are poisonous to cats). Many insecticides can cause poisoning after being swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Some insecticides are odorless, thus the person is unaware of being exposed to them. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides make certain nerves “fire” erratically, causing many organs to become overactive and eventually to stop functioning. Pyrethrins can occasionally cause allergic reactions. Pyrethroids rarely cause any problems. 