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Case Definition: Paraquat

Clinical description

Ingestion of paraquat typically results in gastrointestinal illness, including oropharyngeal ulcerations, vomiting, and diarrhea, which might contain blood. Patients might have dyspnea and hemoptysis as a result of pulmonary edema or hemorrhage, which can progress to fibrosis over the course of days to weeks (1-3).

Laboratory criteria for diagnosis

  • A case in which paraquat in urine, plasma, or serum is detected, as determined by a commercial laboratory

-OR -

  • Detection of paraquat in environmental samples, as determined by NIOSH or FDA

Case classification

  • Suspected: A case in which a potentially exposed person is being evaluated by health-care workers or public health officials for poisoning by a particular chemical agent, but no specific credible threat exists.
  • Probable: A clinically compatible case in which a high index of suspicion (credible threat or patient history regarding location and time) exists for paraquat exposure, or an epidemiologic link exists between this case and a laboratory-confirmed case.
  • Confirmed: A clinically compatible case in which laboratory tests have confirmed exposure.
The case can be confirmed if laboratory testing was not performed because either a predominant amount of clinical and nonspecific laboratory evidence of a particular chemical was present or a 100% certainty of the etiology of the agent is known.

Additional resources

  1. Bismuth C, Garnier R, Baud FJ, Muszynski J, Keyes C. Paraquat poisoning: an overview of the current status. Drug Saf 1990;5:243-51.
  2. Bismuth C, Garnier R, Dally S, Fournier PE, Scherrmann JM. Prognosis and treatment of paraquat poisoning: a review of 28 cases. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1982;19:461-74.
  3. Vale JA, Meredith TJ, Buckley BM. Paraquat poisoning: clinical features and immediate general management. Hum Toxicol 1987; 6:41-7.
  • Page last reviewed February 22, 2006
  • Page last updated March 04, 2005
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