Malathion poisoning Health Article

Definition

This is poisoning caused by swallowing malathion, a type of insecticide. Serious poisoning can also occur from just handling the malathion without gloves or by failing to wash hands soon after exposure. Significant amounts are absorbed through the skin unless proper precautions are taken.

Alternative Names

Carbofos poisoning; Compound 4049 poisoning; Cythion poisoning; Fosfothion poisoning; Mercaptothion poisoning

Poisonous Ingredient

• Malathion

Where Found

• Some  insecticides

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Bladder and kidneys
  • Increased urination
• Lungs
  • Difficulty breathing
• Heart and blood
  • Low or high blood pressure
  • Slow or rapid heart rate
  • Weakness
  • Convulsions
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Small pupils (not reactive to light)
  • Increased tearing
  • Increased salivation
• Skin
  • Blue skin (lips and fingernails)
  • Sweating
• Gastrointestinal
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
• Nervous system
  • Headache
  • Anxiety
  • Dizziness
  • Coma
  • Confusion
  • Agitation

Home Treatment

Call Poison Control Centers for appropriate treatment information. If malathion is on skin, wash area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Breathing help
• A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage) -- if vomiting has not occurred
• Atropine and pralidoxime, medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
• Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days

Expectations (prognosis)

Patients that continue to improve over the first 4 to 6 hours (after receiving medical treatment) usually recover.