Poisonings Associated with Illegal Use of Aldicarb as a Rodenticide - Campinas Poison Control Center, Brazil, 2000-2007

Objectives: Aldicarb (2-methyl-2 (methylthio) propanal o (methylamino)-carbonyl I oxime), a carbamate pesticide sold under the tradename Temik, used as an insecticide and nematicide, is illegally used as a household rodenticide in Brazil as Chumbinho, and in the Caribbean islands as Tres Pasitos. We...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2008-06, Vol.46 (5), p.405-405
Main Authors: Vieira, R J, Borges, MASB, De Capitani, EM, Madureira, PR, Bucaretchi, F, Toledo, A S
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives: Aldicarb (2-methyl-2 (methylthio) propanal o (methylamino)-carbonyl I oxime), a carbamate pesticide sold under the tradename Temik, used as an insecticide and nematicide, is illegally used as a household rodenticide in Brazil as Chumbinho, and in the Caribbean islands as Tres Pasitos. We present here a retrospective study concerning 177 cases of aldicarb poisoning referred to the UPC, from Jan 2000- Mar 2007. Methods: We analysed data from 443 confirmed or suspected carbamate poisoning from the UPC. We excluded 91 with non compatible clinical manifestations, non identified product or chronic cases, and 59 without clinical manifestations and considered only exposures. Among the 293 cases, 177 were due to aldicarb and 116 to other carbamates. Results: Among the 177 aldicarb poisoned patients, 63 were treated at the University Hospital (57 Chumbinho with one death and 6 Temik with no deaths), and 114 were treated in other health services (86 Chumbinho with 2 deaths and 28 Temik with 2 deaths). Among the 177 aldicarb patients the most frequent muscarinic manifestations were myosis 115 (65.0%), salivation 101 (57.0%), pulmonary secretion 95 (56.7%), diaphoresis (41.8%), vomiting 43 (24.3%), bradycardia 32 (10,1%), dyspnea 22 (12.4%), diarrhea 19 (10,7%), nausea 14 (9,9%), tac-hypnea 11 (6.2%), urinary and/or fecal incontinence 10 (5.6%), abdominal cramps 8 (4.5%), cyanosis 8 (4.5%), epigastralgia 7 (4.0%), pulmonary edema 5 (2.8%), visual disturbances 5 (2.8%), shock 3 (1.7%); nicotinic manifestations included tachycardia 29 (165.4%), muscle fasciculation 22 (12.4%), hypertension 21 (11.9%), tremor 17 (9.6%), muscle weakness 3 (1.75%); CNS and other manifestations were CNS depression 87 (49.2%), seizures 19 (10.7%), confusion 18 (10.2%), agitation 16 (9.0%), hypotension 15 (8.5%), hypothermia 11 (6.2%), hyperlhermia 5 (2.8%), bradypnea 3 (1.7%), and paresthesia 2 (1.1%). Of the 177 cases, 172 (97.1%) involved ingestion; 147 (83.1%) were suicide attempts; 142 (80.2%) received atropine and 63 (35.6%) were intubated. 2 (1.1%) had cerebral vascular accidents. Mortality at other health services was 3.5% (4/114) and 1.59% (1/63) at our hospital, a patient who arrived at ED after a cardio respiratory arrest, presenting with hypertensive pneumothorax, and severe pulmonary aspiration. Conclusion: Despite the severity of aldicarb poisoning adequate and prompt treatment can be highly efficient.
ISSN:1556-3650