Serious skin poisoning by Paraquat

Abstract

Paraquat is a highly toxic non-selective herbicide and is responsible for high accidental or provoked lethality rates, mainly due to respiratory failure. Although oral poisoning is the primary and most severe, prolonged contact with the substance in a large body area can lead to similar toxicity and death – a fact that is little elucidated in the literature. This is the case report of a 22-year-old man admitted to a hospital due to complaints of malaise, nausea, fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, burns and dyspnea. The initial diagnostic suspicion was hantaviruses, leptospirosis, dengue and pulmonary thromboembolism, and there was subsequently proven exogenous intoxication with pesticides by inhalation and cutaneous route. Imaging tests revealed diffuse pulmonary fibrosis and he also had
renal, hepatic and coagulation alterations. As there is no specific antidote, symptomatic and supportive treatment was performed using activated charcoal, antibiotics, corticosteroids, antioxidants and hemodialysis. However, the patient had a progressive worsening of the condition and died due to acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis. Paraquat, although banned in Brazil in 2020, continues to be used illegally. In addition, its substitute, the Diquat, has similar toxicity. Thus, it is essential that health professionals recognize the diagnosis of intoxication by such substances and their different exposure routes. New control measures for these substances and greater investment in health education are also needed to prevent accidental exposure, as reported.