Retrospective Analysis of Pesticide Poisoning in Rural Area

Abstract

Acute pesticide poisoning is an important professional disease and public health problem in both undeveloped and developing countries (1-3). In many countries, the rate of pesticide poisonings is not known due to the inadequacies and weaknesses in the recording systems (4,5). Moreover, the ease with which pesticides can be obtained can increase the poisoning rate (1,5). Many of the pesticides responsible for poisoning people are neurotoxic agents, such as cholinesterase inhibitors. The soluble lipid forms of the pesticides in the organophosphate group, especially, can lead to long term systemic effects by accumulating in the liver and brain (6). In addition, severe poisoning related to certain organochlorines can lead to status epilepticus (7). Acute exposure to phosphite, which is another type of pesticide, via digestion can affect many organs, and it can also lead to death as a result of cardiac insufficiency. Individuals lose their lives due to exposure, despite intensive care, because there are no special antidotes for these products.