Organophosphorus Poisoning

What is Organophosphorus Poisoning?

Organophosphorus poisoning or Organophosphate poisoning occurs when you are exposed to organophosphates, a common type of insecticides, at high levels or for too long. The insecticide is colorless-to-brown liquids kept at room temperature. Some are unscented while some have a fruity smell.

Causes

There are no other causes organophosphate poisoning except the insecticide itself. However, we have the causes for suspicion listed for you below. The signs that would help you understand that a person is poisoned.

  • If the insecticide is sprayed and people around start to see poisoning symptoms without any other obvious source, self-ingestion should be considered.
  • The affected person will probably smell garlic or petrol due to the OP and the solvent respectively.

Symptoms of organophosphorus poisoning

The symptoms of organophosphorus poisoning usually range from mild to severe. In case of serious conditions, an individual may die from its toxicity. The extremity of the symptoms depends on the period of exposure to the toxic chemical. Here are some symptoms ranged from mild to moderate to the extreme:

Mild symptoms:

  • Watery eyes
  • Nausea
  • Runny nose
  • Impaired or blurry vision
  • Stinging eyes
  • Narrowed pupils
  • glassy eyes
  • Muscle twitching
  • Headache
  • Extra saliva
  • Agitation
  • Muscle fatigue

Moderate symptoms:

  • Dizziness
  • Extremely narrow pupils
  • Drooling
  • Muscle twitching
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle tremors
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Sneezing
  • Excessive phlegm
  • Severe vomiting
  • Muscle weakness
  • Uncontrolled bowel movements or urination

Extreme symptoms:

  • Coma
  • Confusion
  • Narrow pupils
  • Convulsions
  • Agitation
  • Irregular or slow heartbeat
  • Excessive secretions (saliva, tears, mucus, and sweat)
  • Collapsing
  • Breathing with ineffective stops

When to see a doctor

If there’s suspicion of poisoning after you are exposed to the hazardous chemical, you must see a doctor right away. He will carry out certain medical examinations to determine the symptoms affecting you and their severity.

Based on your condition, a treatment plan will be suggested that mostly starts by stabilization of the patient (in emergency cases). Non-emergency cases can be easily controlled with supportive therapy and medications.

Having any doubts of organo phosphorus poisoning? Meet Dr M.V. Rao today!

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