Nationwide Survey of Clinical Cases of Pesticide Poisoning (Disorders) in Japan, 1996-1997 FY / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Data concerning clinical cases of pesticide poisoning (disorders) were collected from members of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine during 1996-1997 FY throughout the nation using a new prescribed form, and were analyzed statistically.<BR>1) A total of 232 cases of poisoning (disorders) by agricultural chemicals were reported from 38 hospitals and other medical institutions.<BR>2) By types of clinical manifestations, the majority of the cases were acute or subacute pesticide poisoning (70.3%), which was followed by acute dermatitis (20.7%).<BR>3) Suicide accounted for 53.4% of the pesticide poisoning (disorders) cases. Poisoning caused after spraying in fields or green houses accounted for 17.2%, during spraying 15.9%, and so forth.<BR>4) Organophosphate insecticides were the most frequent inducers of the clinical cases (35.8%), which was followed by a herbicide bipyridylium (16.8%) and a fungicide fluazinum (15.5%).<BR>5) Main factors contributing to the onset of pesticide poisoning (disorders) excluding suicide were nature of agricultural chemicals (32.7%), insufficient protective clothing (25.7%), overconfidence (21.8%), carelessness (16.8%), ignorance (16.8%), and so forth.<BR>6) Epidemiological features such as by sex, age, seasons, and prognoses were also analyzed and discussed.