Today, pesticides are widely used not only by agricultural workers, but also by gardeners. Summer residents who try to harvest a rich harvest, and housewives caring for indoor flowers, often use such chemicals. However, not all people are aware of the necessary precautions. Therefore, there are cases of pesticide poisoning. The article details this pathology.
Danger of chemicals to the body
This group of substances fights against plant diseases, weeds, insects, spoiling wool, cotton, leather products.
The composition of pesticides includes copper, mercury, phosphorus compounds. Due to their high toxicity, chemicals are stored out of the reach of children. Before using substances, you should also take care of protective equipment. Under what circumstances can intoxication develop? Cases of pesticide poisoning occur both in enterprises and in everyday life. Not only people, but also animals can suffer from the action of substances. This happens if the compounds penetrate the feed or fall on the grass when sprayed. Intoxication is especially severe in pediatric patients.
The circumstances in which poisoning occurs
The main cause of pathology is non-compliance with safety standards when working with chemicals. Such violations include:
- Poor processing of devices that are used in agriculture.
- The lack of protective equipment on the surface of the skin, special clothing.
- Preparation of substances for the destruction of pests at home.
- Non-compliance with the instructions during the use of insect repellents.
- Eating vegetables and fruits that contain chemicals can cause pesticide poisoning.
Factors determining the severity of intoxication
The substances in question penetrate the human body through the digestive organs, respiratory tract or skin. However, how much an individual suffers as a result of pesticide poisoning depends on several aspects, for example:
- Toxicity of the chemical.
- The speed of its decay.
- The ability of a compound to remain in food and in the human body for a long time.
It must be remembered that even a small amount of toxin causes severe pathologies. These conditions require emergency medical attention. The features of pesticide poisoning and symptoms are described in the following sections.
Common symptoms of the disease
Manifestations of intoxication in all cases are approximately the same. They do not depend on the way the poison enters the body. Specialists distinguish a mild, moderate and severe degree of pathology. The severity of symptoms is determined by the concentration of the chemical, its volume. With pesticide poisoning in humans, the following phenomena are observed:
- Bouts of dizziness.
- Changes in behavior (in children). The baby often cries, feels weak, does not move much.
- Headache.
- Increased saliva.
- Acceleration of the heart rhythm.
- Severe weakness.
- If a person has inhaled poisonous chemicals, he has a sharp aftertaste in the oral cavity, severe coughing fits.
- Patients with chronic pathologies suffer from exacerbation of signs of disease.
In the absence of adequate therapy, severe intoxication may develop. The following symptoms are characteristic of it:
- Excessive sweat.
- Pupil reduction.
- Violations of the respiratory functions.
- Bluish skin tone.
- Attacks of convulsions.
Other symptoms
Depending on which substances are part of the pesticides, the manifestations of intoxication may be different. If the chemicals contain phosphorus, the patient develops respiratory and vascular function disorders, agitation, and pupils decrease. Wheezing is heard in the lungs. In severe cases, a person falls into a coma, he has a cardiac arrest. When poisoning with compounds that include chlorine, the symptoms are different. The integuments acquire a red tint, the outflow of tears, discomfort in the throat, muscle weakness, disorders of the liver and urinary organs, cough.
If intoxication with pesticides containing mercury occurs, the victim feels an unpleasant aftertaste in the oral cavity. When poisoning with substances containing metals, a person's consciousness is disturbed, disruptions in the digestive and lymphatic systems occur.
Individuals who use such chemicals should be aware of the characteristics of pesticide poisoning, symptoms and treatment of pathology.
How to provide assistance with intoxication?
The measures that need to be taken in case of a disease directly depend on how the toxin penetrated the body. If the substance has got on the skin (this is evidenced by a feeling of itching, a red tint of the affected fragment), clothing should be removed. The chemical must be removed with an ammonia solution (10%).
Then a person needs to treat the damaged part of the body with soap and rinse it with water. In case of penetration of the toxin into the digestive tract during pesticide poisoning, help consists in the following measures:
- Ventilate to provide fresh air. It is necessary to open a window, a window.
- Gastric lavage with large amounts of water with crushed tablets of activated carbon. If the patient is fainted or is a child under 5 years old, vomiting cannot be provoked. The contents of the digestive tract can get into the respiratory tract. In such cases, gastric lavage is carried out by doctors using a probe.
- The elimination of toxic substances is promoted by drugs that enhance the separation of urine. Medications should be used only after drinking enough water or setting up a dropper.
- In order to slow down the rate of absorption of the poison, use Almagel, Polyphepan, egg protein.
These measures relate to first aid methods for pesticide poisoning. The remaining procedures are carried out by doctors who take the victim to the hospital.
Hospital Therapy
The doctor selects an antidote for a person - a medicine that neutralizes the toxin. The drug is injected into the body. Also, medications with anticonvulsant action are given to the person, droppers are placed. As side effects of pesticide poisoning, experts call pathology of the digestive tract and kidneys. Therefore, for some period after intoxication, you need to adhere to a special diet.
The right diet for patients
For two days after the illness, a person is recommended to fast and drink plenty of water. On the third day, you can switch to sparing nutrition. The following products should be present in the diet:
- The first dishes are mashed.
- Liquid cereal dishes.
- Low-fat broths.
- Shredded lean meat.
- Mashed vegetables.
Solid foods are introduced a little later. Eat often, but in small volumes. It is especially important for minors to follow a diet. After all, the body of children is very susceptible to external influences.
Therefore, do not pamper the recovering baby with his favorite treats. During the recovery period after an illness, it is undesirable to consume:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Chocolate.
- Confectionery.
- Fried, fatty, salty and spicy foods.
- Beans
Adult patients need to refrain from drinking alcohol.
Pesticide poisoning in animals
Not only people can experience the harmful effects of chemicals. Representatives of the fauna are also susceptible to intoxication.
In animals, poisoning causes the following symptoms:
- Lack of interest in food.
- Muscle tremors.
- Strong outflow of saliva.
- Impaired respiratory function.
- Fluid stool with blood particles.
- Unstable gait.
Medical care activities include:
- An exception to the diet in which the toxin has been ingested.
- Gastric lavage with medication or a probe.
- The animal must be given an antidote, a laxative, to provide it with plenty of water.
- For treatment, diuretics and drugs that restore respiratory function are used.
Preventive actions
How to protect yourself from intoxication? Simple guidelines should be followed. Prevention of pesticide poisoning is as follows:
- Observe safety standards when using chemicals and when storing them.
- Rinse skin well after handling substances.
- Have protective equipment with you.
- The special clothes worn by agricultural workers should be aired, washed once a week and kept in a separate room.
- When using pesticides, wear gloves that are treated with a solution of soda, soap and water.
- After using the substances, it is advisable to take a shower. Clothes must be changed. Hands are wiped with a cloth dipped in water.
- When buying fruits and vegetables, give preference to not too large and bright product.
- If there is a suspicion that the product is infected, it must be treated with soap and water, peeled, placed for 10 minutes in a solution of acetic acid.