Estudo prospectivo de pacientes com intoxicação aguda por inseticidas organofosforados, atendidos no CEATOX

Abstract

The importance of the pesticides causal agent of intoxication and deaths is clearly shown by the number of registered cases, mainly in developed countries. In Brazil, pesticides places the third more important group of substances responsible for acute intoxication. They act through enzymatic inhibition (acetylcholinesterase) in an irreversible way, leading to characteristic cholinergic signs and symptoms. They are also able to cause the intermediary syndrome and the delayed polyneuropathy. This study aimed to set out the poisoning patients’ epidemiological outline in Ceará state, observed from February to July 2004, who received medical care at Centro de Assistência Toxicológica do Ceará (CEATOX); evaluating the proposed treatment; verifying the signs and symptoms related to the cholinergic and intermediary syndromes; analyzing the risk factors matched to patients recovery. Some preliminary data were obtained from January 2002 to June 2003 concerning to these poisoning events. The data collection was performed from medical recording, CEATOX notification files and patients or their companion interviews. 19 patients were analyzed, 10 (52,6%) men and 9 (47,4%) women. The average age was 27,8 ± 11,4. Agriculturists represented 42,1% (8/19) of all cases. Attempted suicide constituted 84,2% (16/19). There were 4 (21,1%) deaths. The main clinical observations were diarrhea (78,9%), myosis (57,9%) and sialorrhea (52,6%). The AChE levels were measured immediately after admission and expressed in terms of mean ± standard deviation (1,06 ± 1,50 UI/mL). The other AChE measurements were performanced during the permanence of the patients in the hospital. Among clinical complications, those ones related to the respiratory tract were the most relevant (57,2%). Atropine was administered to 16 (84,2%) patients. The average time of admission was 8,6 ± 8,5 days. There was statistical association when were compared ventilation, time spent in the ICU and type of intoxication with clinical complications (p<0,05) (Chi-square test and Fisher’s test). The logistic regression did not show statistical differences when the death risk was analyzed comparing to the studied variables. The results stress the need to adopt more suitable measures with a restructured protocol in handling patients intoxicated with IOF, giving ample publicity at the hospital units of Dr. José Frota Institute and others. The data obtained also point out the critical situation in Ceará State in the use, misure or inappropriate vigilance by the sanitary authorities.