Citation

Sievert JS, Morrissey BF, Calvert GM. J. Agromed. 2013; 18(4): 285-292.

Affiliation

a Washington State Department of Health , Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Toxicology , Olympia , Washington , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1059924X.2013.826606

PMID

24125043

Abstract

Acute severe pesticide-related illness among farm worker children is rarely reported. The authors report a toddler with acute onset of apnea, cyanosis, somnolence, hypotonia, tachycardia, and miosis who required hospitalization. Health care providers suspected pesticide poisoning, but were unable to determine the causal agent. Investigation by a public health program documented four pesticide exposures that occurred within one-half hour of acute illness. This case illustrates the importance of a thorough environmental/occupational exposure history and obtaining biological samples. It also documents the need to strengthen the Worker Protection Standard for agricultural workers and the importance of reporting and investigating pesticide-related illness.

Language: en