Close look on insecticide poisoning

Fact Checked

Insecticide poisoning can occur by accident or intentionally after ingesting any product that contains insecticides. It is important to note that insecticides are utilized to eliminate insects including parasitic worms, bugs and pests.

Type of insecticides

  • Organic – these are chemical compounds comprised of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen that includes organophosphates and organochlorides.
  • Inorganic – some of these are metal-based and include calcium polysulfide, boric acid, copper oleate, mercurous chloride and sodium thiocyanate.
  • Natural – these are derived from plants and include pyrethrin, nicotine-based insecticides and neem extract.

Remember that all insecticides are toxic to humans. Some of the natural variants are less poisonous while others are highly noxious. Those that belong to carbamates and organophosphate mixtures are significantly strong.

What are the causes?

insecticide poisoning
The indications of insecticide poisoning vary from one person to another.

Insecticide poisoning can occur in various ways from eye or skin exposure, inhalation of powder, fumes or vapors or by ingestion. Some of these chemicals are quickly absorbed by the body, especially after skin exposure or ingestion.

What are the signs?

The indications of insecticide poisoning vary from one person to another. The usual signs that might arise include the following:

  • Wheezing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Increased eye tearing and redness
  • Increased saliva production in the mouth
  • Urinary issues
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Lack of light sensitivity
  • Visual irregularities such as pinpoint or enlarged pupils
  • Slow or rapid heart rate
  • Muscle spasms
  • High or low blood pressure
  • Skin redness, irritation and inflammation
  • Seizures
  • Discoloration of the lips and under the fingernails
  • Collapse and coma

Management of insecticide poisoning

The initial step to do if an individual is suspected with insecticide poisoning is to call for emergency assistance right away. The poison control center should also be contacted so that instructions can be given.

Make sure that you will provide details on the insecticide taken, amount and time of ingestion, weight, age and overall health of the individual.

  • Move the individual away from the site of exposure.
  • Check the mouth and remove any leftover substance. After cleaning, wipe the mouth using a damp cloth.
  • Check if the individual has a pulse rate and breathing.
  • If the eyes or skin are exposed to the insecticide, it should be washed continuously under flowing water for at least 15 minutes.
  • Discard any contaminated clothes and always use protective gear such as gloves.

Bring the individual to the nearest emergency department so that further treatment can be started.

Outlook

If the individual recovers from the symptoms within 4-6 hours with proper management, the outcome is generally good.

In severe instances that involves seizures, erratic heart rate and coma, it can worsen the outcome of the condition.

Disclaimer / More Information

The information posted on this page on insecticide poisoning is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to recognize the indications, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Saskatoon, Victoria, Surrey, Mississauga, Winnipeg, Red Deer, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

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