Dichlorvos poisoning: symptoms, treatment, consequences

Fighting insects is familiar to almost every person. Especially, this applies to people who have their own kitchen gardens or villas. In addition, some faced the spread of insects and in the apartment. Therefore, a substance such as dichlorvos is available in almost every home. It is designed to fight with various insects: flies, ants, bugs and cockroaches. Nevertheless, not everyone knows how dangerous for a person is the poisoning of dichlorvos. This substance belongs to the group of chemicals - organophosphorus compounds. Such remedies are considered poisonous not only for insects. Poisoning with these substances is also dangerous for humans and animals. It is harmful not only to get this medication inside, but also to inhale its vapors.

Causes of poisoning with dichlorvos

Poisoning with dichlorvos became quite common about two decades ago due to the appearance of a large number of cockroaches and bedbugs. Currently, this substance is not used so often. Nevertheless, many people use it up to now. In some regions, this product has been withdrawn from production and sale, since it has a toxic effect and is dangerous. There are following reasons why dichlorvos enters the human and animal organism:

1. No airing of the room. It should be noted that after the use of household chemicals designed to fight insects, it is necessary to open the windows and leave the apartment for a while. In addition, this applies to pets. They also need to be released to fresh air until the room is ventilated.
2. The ingestion of dichlorvos in the digestive tract. In no case should penetration of vapors into the oral cavity be prevented. If organophosphorus compounds get into the stomach cavity, a lethal outcome is possible. Unfortunately, dichlorvos often enters the body of animals (dogs, cats). Also, children should not be admitted to it.
3. The introduction of dichlorvos under the skin. This refers to the liquid form of the substance. Poisoning with dichlorvos is also very dangerous, as it causes local damage. In addition, the substance can enter the bloodstream. The penetration of organophosphorus agents in this way can be accidental (by ignorance) and deliberate (suicide).

Impact of dichlorvos on the body

In most cases, dichlorvos from bugs are used in everyday life. This insecticide is classified as a 3 hazard group. That is, human poisoning is unlikely. Nevertheless, it is possible with improper use of dichlorvos. In the body of insects, this substance acts on the nervous system, causing paralysis. Death from exposure to organophosphorus substances in bedbugs and cockroaches occurs several hours after the inhalation of fumes. For people and domestic animals, dichlorvos are not so dangerous. Nevertheless, excessive accumulation of its vapors in the body is possible. This causes inflammation and edema of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Also, the poisoning in pairs of dichlorvos is dangerous for people suffering from allergic reactions. In this case, the substance quickly reaches the surface of the bronchi, causing inflammation. In addition, the danger is the contact of dichlorvos with the mucosa of the eyes. This also causes tissue damage and an inflammatory response.

Dichlorvos poisoning: symptoms of intoxication

The severity of the symptoms of poisoning with organophosphorus compounds depends on how long the person breathes the vapors of the substance, as well as the characteristics of the organism. In people who are prone to allergies, the first sign of getting dichlorvos in the bronchi is shortness of breath, an attack of suffocation. When a liquid organophosphorus substance enters the body, there is a local edema, tenderness and areas of damage - necrosis of the skin, underlying tissues. So, how is dichlorvos poisoning manifested? Symptoms of prolonged exposure are:

1. Dizziness, deterioration, weakness.
2. Redness of the skin, itching.
3. Raise body temperature to 39 degrees.
4. Headache.
5. Appearance of a cough and runny nose.

If the pairs of dichlorvos hit the mucous membrane of the eyes, signs of conjunctivitis are observed. In this case, a person complains of itching, watery eyes. The inner surface of the eyelids is edematous and hyperemic. Even with a slight penetration of organophosphorus into the digestive system (when spraying aerosol), symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, pain in the upper half of the abdomen.

What can be complications of poisoning?

In most cases, the entry of vapors of organophosphorus compounds into the skin and the respiratory tract is not too dangerous. Usually symptoms last for 1-3 days. Despite this, in some cases severe consequences of poisoning with dichlorvos are observed. They develop if a person has an individual intolerance to this substance, with prolonged contact with vapors or when poison enters the interior. In the cases listed, pronounced intoxication of the organism is observed. Severe poisoning is characterized by such symptoms as multiple vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, paroxysmal cough. The most dangerous signs are the appearance of convulsive syndrome, spasm of smooth muscles of internal organs. Consequences of this condition can be collapse and development of coma.

Diagnosis of dichlophos poisoning

Find out: the exact cause of poisoning is not always possible. Especially if the patient is in serious condition or is a child. Diagnosis is based on the questioning of relatives. It should be noted whether there is dichlorvos nearby from bedbugs. Usually, it has a characteristic smell, but in some cases the substance does not smell or has time to weaken before the arrival of doctors. It is important to pay attention to the characteristic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, flushing of the skin and fever.

What to do if dichlorvos is poisoned: first aid

If inhaled, dichlorvoside vapors should be taken to fresh air. In the room you should open windows and doors for several hours. Hyperemic areas of the skin should be washed with running water. The patient is advised to provide bed rest. Mucous membranes of the eyes, oral and nasal cavity should be washed with clean cold water. If the patient has signs of intoxication, it is necessary to induce vomiting, drink as much liquid as possible.

Medication for poisoning with dichlorvos

In some cases, if a person is poisoned with dichlorvos, medication is necessary. Activated charcoal is recommended to remove harmful toxins. When dichlorphos hits the eye mucosa and conjunctivitis, "Albucid" drops are required. For the prevention of an allergic reaction, the drug "Suprastin", "Tavegil" is used. In severe cases, hospitalization, infusion of saline solutions, and anticonvulsants are required.