Case Definition: Paraquat
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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.
Additional resources
- Bismuth C, Garnier R, Baud FJ, Muszynski J, Keyes C. Paraquat poisoning: an overview of the current status. Drug Saf 1990;5:243-51.
- 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.
- 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 modified March 04, 2005