Imidacloprid belongs to a relatively new class of
insecticides, chloronicotinyl
neonicotinoid compounds that are
agonists of
insect postsynaptic
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChrs). Imidacloprid
insecticides have been believed to be of low
toxicity to
humans causing only mild symptoms such as
vomiting,
abdominal pain and
headache in the majority of cases due to
nicotinic receptor resistance. Despite the original
belief that imidacloprid has low mammalian
toxicity, evidence is increasing evidence that imidacloprid may cause
heart,
kidney and other organ damages and even
death, besides gastrointestinal irritation and neurological symptoms. We
report a case of acute
ingestion of an imidacloprid-containing
insecticide. Clinical manifestrations included
hypotension and
respiratory failure. A
literature review is included.