TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2004//
TI  - Acute metaldehyde poisoning in Taiwan
JO  - Veterinary and human toxicology
A1  - Shih, Chi-Chung
A1  - Chang, Shy-Shin
A1  - Chan, Yi-Ling
A1  - Chen, Jih-Chang
A1  - Chang, Meng-Wei
A1  - Tung, Meng-Sheng
A1  - Deng, Jou-Fang
A1  - Yang, Chen-Chang
SP  - 140
EP  - 143
VL  - 46
IS  - 3
N2  - Metaldehyde, a cyclic tetramer of acetaldehyde, is a widely used molluscicide. Although cases with acute metaldehyde poisoning have been reported, the occurrence of severe poisoning is uncommon. To provide more information on human metaldehyde poisoning, we reviewed 15 cases of metaldehyde exposure reported to the Taiwan National Poison Control Center at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1991 and 2002. While 7 patients were asymptomatic, the other 8 patients, including 4 who coingested alcohol or other poisons, exhibited toxic manifestations of abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea, irritation of oral mucosa, and seizures after oral exposure. One patient died after ingesting 12 g (or 258.6 mg/kg) of metaldehyde. Although the toxicity from metaldehyde is largely mild, the clinical course of metaldehyde poisoning may be rapidly deteriorating and fatal on rare occasions. Physicians should therefore be cautious in managing patients with metaldehyde poisoning, and vigorous supportive measures should be promptly instituted in patients who manifest severe toxicity.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0145-6296
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -