Skin manifestations of organic phosphate insecticide poisoning.

Abstract

Fatalities due to organic phosphate insecticide poisoning establish undeniable evidence of a relatively new and often baffling menace to public safety. If such tragedies, often occurring within minutes of the onset of symptoms, 1 are to be avoided, the physician must be aware of the manifestations of this disease, particularly before signs of cardiac arrest, acute abdomen, convulsions, or coma supervene. In the following case report, a dermatological finding is presented as a sign of chronic exposure to parathion, one of the more commonly used organic phosphate insecticides. Report of a Case The patient was a 25-year-old fireman complaining of periodic profuse sweating of the arms and back associated with mild pruritus of three weeks' duration. He had been well until he noted the onset of drenching hyperhidrosis occurring at work as well as at home. Roughness of the skin and mild pruritus followed. He revealed