Organochlorine pesticides poisoning

Poisoning from organochlorinated insecticides is becoming less common. The vast majority may be via the digestive tract, either accidentally or with suicidal purposes, or through the topical route. Symptoms begin after an interval of between several minutes to a couple of hours and may last for several hours or days. The main symptom is seizures. Depending on the insecticide, the initial symptom may be a tremor, headache, visual disturbances, vertigo, sweating, discomfort, nausea, vomiting, liver or kidney failure and serious arrhythmia, although the leading cause of death is respiratory failure due to heart failure. The diagnosis is made through a detailed medical history, physical examination, general blood test, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive; there is no antidote. Serious poisonings require admission to an ICU.