1 2,4-D is a highly toxic compound causing a wide spectrum of symptoms and organ involvement (heart, lungs, GI tract, muscle, endocrine system, and nerves) after oral, skin, or inhalational exposure. Keywords: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, herbicide, poisoning, EthiopiaĢ,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a poisonous herbicide widely used in Ethiopian agriculture and accounts for >70% of herbicides imported into the country. In addition, local policies on proper and controlled use of these herbicides are needed to improve awareness among users and prevent accidental and intentional exposures. No specific treatment is known, so a high index of suspicion for early detection, decontamination, and initiation of supportive care is crucial to improve survival after exposure. Due to the similarity of some clinical signs with organophosphate poisoning in acute settings, there are possible missed cases of 2,4-D acid herbicide poisoning. Despite these interventions, she died several days later. There, ingestion of 2,4-D was confirmed, and she received supportive care, mechanical ventilation, and forced alkaline diuresis.
She was originally treated for organophosphate poisoning, and then transferred to Saint Peter’s Hospital in Addis Ababa for more intensive care. We herein report a case of a young female farmer from rural Ethiopia who was admitted to a local hospital after presenting with loss of consciousness and excess oral secretions 2 hours after a suicidal ingestion of an unknown toxic agent.
Though poisoning reports from this compound are rare, there is a tendency toward increased use of it in the agrarian society of Ethiopia.
Zekewos Demissie, 1 Amsalu Bekele, 2 Abate Bane 3ġDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaĬorrespondence: Zekewos Demissie, Email Ībstract: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid is a poisonous herbicide.