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Paraquat poisoning - Symptom

Alternative Names

Paraquat lung

Symptoms:

Burns in throat
Coma
Difficulty breathing
Nosebleed
Seizures
Shock
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Stomach pain
Vomiting

Signs and tests:

You will be asked if you have been exposed to Paraquat.

Blood and urine tests will be done to determine how much Paraquat is in your system. Other tests that may be done include:

Arterial blood gases (measures of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid-base balance)
BUN and creatinine (kidney function tests)
Chem-20
Chest x-ray
Lung function tests
Urinalysis
Urine toxicology screen

Lungs

Reviewed last on: 1/14/2010
Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Robbe WC III, Meggs WJ. Insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 182.

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