Clinical observation on parathion poisoning

A total of 158 cases of parathion poisoning were clinically observed in Chonnam University Hospital from Jan.1968 to June, 1972 with the following results. 1. The males were 133 and the females, 25(ratio, about 5:1) with 93patients (58.9%) in the age group of 21 to 40 years old and the majority of the patients were farmers. 2. 158cases could be devided into 38 cases of inhalation group(group I) and 120 cases of ingestion group (group II).The group I entirely occurred by acident during spraying the parathion, whereas the group II mostly developed byingestion of the parathion for the suicide purpose. 3. During the period from 1968 to 1972, more frequentincidence of parathion poisoning showed up in 1971 and 1972. Inhalation group mostly occurred on July, August, andSep. and also ingestion group mostly occurred on June, July, August, and Sep. but several cases appearedsporadically in the rest of the months. 4. Most patients came to our Hospital within 4 hours after parathionpoisoning and were discharged from the Hospital within one or two days after admission. Mortality was 2 cases(5.3%) out of 38 cases in inhalation group and was 26 cases (21.7%) out of 120 cases in ingestion group. 5.Clinical signs and symptoms showing high incidence were bronchorrhea (incidence of 38.6%), dyspnea(57.6%),vomiting (62.0%), abdominal cramps(20.0%), sialorrhea (53.8%), tachycardia(32.2%), miosis(67.7%), fasciculation(19.0%), hypertension (27.9%), drowsiness and confusion(50.0%), leukocytosis(58.3%), elevation of SGOT(23.0%),whereas mydriasis(5.7%), and proteinuria(4.0%) were low in incidence. All the ten cases (6.3%) showing involuntarydefecation expired. 6. Roentgenographs of the chest were taken to 39 cases out of a total of 158 cases andrevealed 21 cases (54.0%) of normal chest, 11 cases (28.0%) of bilateral pulmonary congestion, 7 cases (18.0%) ofpulmonary edema or pneumonic consolidation.