Advertisement!
Author Information Pack
Editorial Board
Submit article
Special Issue
Editor's selection process
Join as Reviewer/Editor
List of Reviewer
Indexing Information
Most popular articles
Purchase Single Articles
Archive
Free Online Access
Current Issue
Recommend this journal to your library
Advertiser
Accepted Articles
Search Articles
Email Alerts
FAQ
Contact Us
Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine

Volume  11, Issue 2, April - June 2025, Pages 127-129
 

Review Article

A Case of Suicide Involving the Ingestion of a Lethal Dose of Paraquat Resulting in Death

Shabbir Shekhli1, Vijay Kumar S.S.

1 Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Raja Rajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore,  Karnataka 560074, India. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore 575018,  India.

Choose an option to locate / access this Article:
days Access
Check if you have access through your login credentials.        PDF      |
|

Open Access: View PDF

DOI: 10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.11225.9

Abstract

Paraquat is used in agriculture as a weed killer and is fatal to humans even in small doses. There have been reported cases of death due to dermal absorption of paraquat. Here, we report a case of suicide involving the ingestion of a lethal dose of paraquat resulting in death within a short time. Secondary exposure of the rescuers was also observed, prompting us to issue a warning to the surrounding area. The patient, a 58-year-old female, ingested a lethal dose with suicidal intent and was transported by ambulance. She died approximately 2 hours after arrival at the hospital. However, the patient’s husband, who was exposed to vomitus on both upper limbs, showed no signs of erythema and did not develop delayed pulmonary injury. The transportation of patients with paraquat poisoning should consider the safety of both the patient and the medical personnel. Additionally, prompt decontamination should be conducted for secondary victims exposed to paraquat, with skin damage serving as a guide for hospitalization.
 


Keywords : Paraquat poison • Emergency department • Lung fibrosis.
Corresponding Author : Shabbir Shekhli,