A Case Report of Paraquat Poisoning with Acute Kidney Injury Managed Conservatively without Long-term Pulmonary Sequale

Abstract

Paraquat’s chemical name is N, N′-dimethyl-4, 4′-bipyridinium dichloride. Due of its quick inactivation upon contact with soil Paraquat has minimal chronic toxicity. In India, instances of this pesticide toxicity are rare despite its broad availability. Ingestion of paraquat can cause severe and frequently lethal poisoning. There is currently no known treatment for paraquat poisoning, thus efforts should be directed on prevention and, in the event of exposure or ingestion, rigorous decontamination to stop further absorption. The prognosis is dismal everywhere, even for individuals who get rigorous multimodal therapy. The lungs, GI (gastrointestinal) tract, kidney, liver, heart, and other organs can all suffer life-threatening consequences from ingesting toxic levels of paraquat, which can be deadly. There aren’t many longterm survivors, and they often experience lung and GI issues. The paraquat lethal dosage is so low that >10 ml of the toxin can irreversibly harm the lungs. Without a solid history, a particular clinical symptom, or a diagnostic test, diagnosis is frequently challenging. One of the most significant methods of poisoning is exposure by inhalation. Our patient was found to have consumed a product that included paraquat in excess of the deadly amount, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to rescue her. This indicates the high fatality rate of this type of poisoning. Adults are twice more likely to be poisoned by paraquat during suicide attempts than through accidental exposure. Pneumomediastonium is a consequence of paraquat poisoning that affects 20% of patients and has a 100% fatality rate.