ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms. METHODS: Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication. RESULTS: No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test. They persistently manifested helplessness, depression, and anxiety. The results of both psychological assessment and general physical examination revealed the following clinical features: depression (8 cases), multiple chemical hypersensitivity syndrome (2 cases), alcoholism (1 case), and religious preoccupation (1 case). CONCLUSION: In those living in the western rural area of South Korea, depression is a prominent ongoing presentation in pesticide-exposed farmers, in addition to unexplainable physical symptoms.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/diagnosis , Environmental Illness/diagnosis , Occupational Exposure , Pesticides/poisoning , Aged , Agricultural Workers' Diseases/psychology , Chronic Disease , Environmental Illness/psychology , Female , Humans , Korea , Male , Middle Aged , Observation , Psychological TestsABSTRACT
The ingestion of paraquat, a non-selective herbicide, can be fatal in humans. Paraquat is toxic to multiple organs, including the kidney, heart, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. Although paraquat has been established as one cause of acute tubular necrosis, Fanconi syndrome presenting as severe hypophosphataemia after paraquat intoxication has not been reported. Here, we report the case of a 44-year-old Korean woman who presented with generalized proximal tubular dysfunction including aminoaciduria, phosphaturia and glycosuria after paraquat intoxication. We found that severe hypophosphataemia induces deep drowsiness. Renal biopsy findings indicated the presence of acute tubular necrosis that may be reversible.
