Citation

Vijitharan V, Warnasekare J, Lokunarangoda NC, Farah MF, Siribaddana SH. Ceylon Med. J. 2016; 61(2): 89-90.

Affiliation

University Medical Unit, Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. vvijitharan@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Sri Lanka Medical Association)

DOI

10.4038/cmj.v61i2.8297

PMID

27423755

Abstract

Globally, 30% of suicidal deaths are caused by self- poisoning with pesticides. Deaths due to suicidal or intentional ingestion of plant growth regulators are rare. We report a case of suicide after consuming chlormequat chloride [(2-chloroethyl) tri-methyl-ammonium chloride; C5H13Cl2N] a quaternary ammonium compound and a plant growth regulator. It is used widely in agriculture to reduce unwanted longitudinal shoot growth without lowering plant productivity. Chlormequat (Cycocel®) is not approved for plants consumed by humans and animals in USA, but is approved in Europe. In Sri Lanka it is used during cultivation of vegetables, fruits and floriculture. There are four case reports and a case series of seven patients with acute poisoning reported previously. Ten out of these eleven cases have been fatal. One was after inhalation and the others were after ingestion of chlormequat chloride. Clinical features of acute poisoning are cholinergic crisis, cardiac arrest, acute pulmonary oedema, respiratory failure and death mostly within an hour of ingestion. Atropine has been used in four cases. Death occurred within a day of exposure in all fatal cases.

Language: en