Abstract
Toxication caused by pesticides is a serious health problem in our country.
Organophosphates are the leading cause of pesticide toxications in our country,
as they are worldwide. These compounds lead to acetylcholine deposition
by blocking acetylcholine esterase enzyme, causing muscarinic, nicotinic and
central nervous symptoms due to continuous stimulation of the receptors.
Mortality occurs in the early period due to acute cholinergic crisis or later in
patients with intermediate syndrome. Death is caused by heart conduction
disturbances and respiratory failure during the acute cholinergic crisis period,
whereas it is due to respiratory failure in patients with an intermediate
syndrome. Management of patients with pesticide poisoning should start by
providing adequate respiratory and circulatory support followed by antidotes
and other medical therapies. In this review, we have aimed to explain the
properties and mechanisms of action of organophosphate compounds;with
causes of mortality in the poisoning of these compounds and recent approaches
for management of toxication. (JAEM 2012; 11: 176-82)
Key words: Organophosphorus compounds, poisoning, death