Insecticide poisoning
Organophosphate poisoning; Carbamate poisoning
Insecticide is any chemical that kills bugs. Insecticide poisoning occurs when someone swallows or breathes in an insecticide or it is absorbed through the skin.
This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.
Poisonous Ingredient
Most household bug sprays contain plant-derived chemicals called pyrethrins. These chemicals were originally isolated from chrysanthemum flowers and are generally not harmful. However, they can cause life-threatening breathing problems if they are breathed in.
Stronger insecticides, which a farm or commercial greenhouse might use or someone might store in their garage, contain many dangerous substances. These include:
- Carbamates
- Organophosphates
- Paradichlorobenzenes (mothballs)
Where Found
Various insecticides contain these chemicals.
Symptoms
Below are symptoms of insecticide poisoning in different parts of the body.
Symptoms of pyrethrin poisoning:
LUNGS AND AIRWAYS
- Breathing difficulty
NERVOUS SYSTEM
SKIN
- Irritation
- Redness or swelling
Symptoms of organophosphate or carbamate poisoning:
HEART AND BLOOD
- Slow heart rate
LUNGS AND AIRWAYS
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Anxiety
- Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Weakness
BLADDER AND KIDNEYS
- Increased urination
EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
STOMACH AND INTESTINES
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
SKIN
Note: Serious poisoning can occur if an organophosphate gets on your bare skin or if you don't wash your skin soon after it gets on you. Large amounts of the chemical soak through the skin unless you are protected. Life-threatening paralysis and death can occur very quickly.
Symptoms of paradichlorobenzene poisoning:
EYES, EARS, THROAT, AND MOUTH
- Burning in mouth
LUNGS AND AIRWAYS
- Breathing problems (rapid, slow, or painful)
- Cough
- Shallow breathing
MUSCLES
- Muscle spasms
NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Changes in alertness
- Headache
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
SKIN
- Yellow skin (jaundice)
STOMACH AND INTESTINES
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Note: Paradichlorobenzene mothballs are not very toxic. They have replaced the more toxic camphor and naphthalene types.
Home Care
Get medical help right away. Do not make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.
If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.
If the person breathed in the poison, move them to fresh air right away.
Before Calling Emergency
Have this information ready:
- Person's age, weight, and condition
- Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known)
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed
Poison Control
Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to Expect at the Emergency Room
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood and urine tests
- Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to look for burns in the airways and lungs
- Chest x-ray
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to look for burns in the esophagus and the stomach
Treatment may include:
- Fluids by IV (through a vein)
- Medicines to counteract the poisonous effects, such as atropine
- Medicines to support the blood pressure or heart rate
- Medicine to treat symptoms
- Tube through the mouth into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
- Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days
- Surgery to remove burned skin
- Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected to a breathing machine (ventilator)
Outlook (Prognosis)
How well someone does depends on how severe the poisoning is and how quickly treatment is received. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery. Swallowing these poisons can have severe effects on many parts of the body.
It is a good sign that recovery will occur if the person continues to improve in the first 4 to 6 hours after they receive treatment.
Although the symptoms are the same for carbamate and organophosphate poisoning, it is harder to recover after organophosphate poisoning.
References
Roberts DM, Bode M. Pesticides. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 25.15.
Welker KL, Thompson TM. Pesticides. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 152.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 11/2/2023
Reviewed by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
