Petroleum products-kerosene Accidental poisoning with Kerosene is common in India because of its free availability in the household.
Children suffer more.
Cases of poisoning with other petroleum products like petrol, diesel oil and paint thinners are encountered less commonly.
Petroleum products are used as solvents in the manufacture and application of polishes, paints and pesticides.
Some persons develop the habit of sniffing paints and polish for the nervous effects produced by the solvents.
They contain various amounts of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with are mainly depressants of the central nervous system.
They cause damage to the cells on direct contact on account of their ability to dissolve cellular lipids.
The low surface tension facilitates their spread along mucosal surfaces and the lungs even when only small tension facilitates their spread along mucosal surfaces and the lungs even when only small amounts are ingested or inhaled.
Poisoning usually results from ingestion but can also result from inhalation.
The clinical features depend on the quantity and route of poisoning.
Clinical features: Symptoms pertaining to the central nervous system include headache, nausea, tinnitus, drowsiness, convulsions and coma.
Severe vomiting occurs when the oral route is adopted.
Kerosene reaching the trachea spreads widely through out the respiratory tract resulting in the most common and potentially dangerous complications of Pneumonia and pulmonary edema.
Death may occur due to respiratory embarrassment, ventricular fibrillation or severe Pneumonia.
Treatment: All suspected cases of Kerosene poisoning should be hospitalized for 24 hours to watch for aspiration Pneumonia.
Simple gastric lavage is better avoided.
If it is deemed essential, a cuffed endotracheal tube should be introduced prior to gastric lavage to protect the respiratory tract.
Chemical Pneumonia is treated with oxygen inhalation, corticosteriods and ventilatory assistance when indicated.
Antibiotics should be employed to prevent secondary infections.
Organochlorine insecticides These common chemicals which are used as insecticides in houses, gardens and in agriculture have different chemical structures.
1.
Chlorinated diphenyles, e.
g, DDT, TDE, DFDT and DMC.
2.
Chlorinated polycyclic compounds, e.
g, Chloridane, Aldrin and Endrin.
3.
Hexachlorobenzene compounds, e.
g, Lindane.
These are insoluble in water, but freely soluble in organic solvents and lipids.
Their solutions in petroleum, Kerosene, or other organic solvents are used for spraying.
Poisoning may be accidental or suicidal.
Acute toxicity results from ingestion or inhalation of these substances.
Variable amounts of these chemicals may be absorbed through the skin and can result in toxicity.
They stimulate the central nervous system.
When used in form of solutions, the action of the solvent modifies the total effect.
The fatal doses of these compunds are: DDT- 20g Lindane- 3g Chlordane- 1g Aldrine and Endrin- Less than 1g Clinical features: Early manifestations are nausea, vomiting, irritant cough, headache and body aches.
These are followed by nervous irritability, mental sluggishness, muscle twitching, tremors, incoordination, convulsions, paralysis and coma.
Acute pulmonary edema and shock may occur if the exposure is heavy.
Liver function is a prominent feature in Endrin poisoning.
Treatment: The general measures are instituted without delay.
Administration of activated charcoal and saline purgatives help to reduce absorption of the chemical.
Convulsions have to be controlled with injection of 10 mg of diazepam.
Calcium gluconate 1g given intravenously has been found to reduce the convulsive tendency.
Ventilatory assistance is required if respiratory failure sets in.
Widespread use of organochlorine compounds in agriculture has led to their slow absorption through food, milk and water and these chemicals accumulate in human and animal tissues.
Chronic toxicity is a potential hazard.
Children suffer more.
Cases of poisoning with other petroleum products like petrol, diesel oil and paint thinners are encountered less commonly.
Petroleum products are used as solvents in the manufacture and application of polishes, paints and pesticides.
Some persons develop the habit of sniffing paints and polish for the nervous effects produced by the solvents.
They contain various amounts of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with are mainly depressants of the central nervous system.
They cause damage to the cells on direct contact on account of their ability to dissolve cellular lipids.
The low surface tension facilitates their spread along mucosal surfaces and the lungs even when only small tension facilitates their spread along mucosal surfaces and the lungs even when only small amounts are ingested or inhaled.
Poisoning usually results from ingestion but can also result from inhalation.
The clinical features depend on the quantity and route of poisoning.
Clinical features: Symptoms pertaining to the central nervous system include headache, nausea, tinnitus, drowsiness, convulsions and coma.
Severe vomiting occurs when the oral route is adopted.
Kerosene reaching the trachea spreads widely through out the respiratory tract resulting in the most common and potentially dangerous complications of Pneumonia and pulmonary edema.
Death may occur due to respiratory embarrassment, ventricular fibrillation or severe Pneumonia.
Treatment: All suspected cases of Kerosene poisoning should be hospitalized for 24 hours to watch for aspiration Pneumonia.
Simple gastric lavage is better avoided.
If it is deemed essential, a cuffed endotracheal tube should be introduced prior to gastric lavage to protect the respiratory tract.
Chemical Pneumonia is treated with oxygen inhalation, corticosteriods and ventilatory assistance when indicated.
Antibiotics should be employed to prevent secondary infections.
Organochlorine insecticides These common chemicals which are used as insecticides in houses, gardens and in agriculture have different chemical structures.
1.
Chlorinated diphenyles, e.
g, DDT, TDE, DFDT and DMC.
2.
Chlorinated polycyclic compounds, e.
g, Chloridane, Aldrin and Endrin.
3.
Hexachlorobenzene compounds, e.
g, Lindane.
These are insoluble in water, but freely soluble in organic solvents and lipids.
Their solutions in petroleum, Kerosene, or other organic solvents are used for spraying.
Poisoning may be accidental or suicidal.
Acute toxicity results from ingestion or inhalation of these substances.
Variable amounts of these chemicals may be absorbed through the skin and can result in toxicity.
They stimulate the central nervous system.
When used in form of solutions, the action of the solvent modifies the total effect.
The fatal doses of these compunds are: DDT- 20g Lindane- 3g Chlordane- 1g Aldrine and Endrin- Less than 1g Clinical features: Early manifestations are nausea, vomiting, irritant cough, headache and body aches.
These are followed by nervous irritability, mental sluggishness, muscle twitching, tremors, incoordination, convulsions, paralysis and coma.
Acute pulmonary edema and shock may occur if the exposure is heavy.
Liver function is a prominent feature in Endrin poisoning.
Treatment: The general measures are instituted without delay.
Administration of activated charcoal and saline purgatives help to reduce absorption of the chemical.
Convulsions have to be controlled with injection of 10 mg of diazepam.
Calcium gluconate 1g given intravenously has been found to reduce the convulsive tendency.
Ventilatory assistance is required if respiratory failure sets in.
Widespread use of organochlorine compounds in agriculture has led to their slow absorption through food, milk and water and these chemicals accumulate in human and animal tissues.
Chronic toxicity is a potential hazard.
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