Paraquat poisoning by skin absorption: Two case reports and a literature review

The present report describes two cases of paraquat poisoning by skin absorption. The cases involved contractual workers who were spraying paraquat in an orchard. Whilst spraying, some solution adhered to their skin. The skin developed erythema followed by blistering and hemorrhaging hemorrhagic diabrosis. Six days later the patients were admitted to the Department of Poisoning and Occupational Disease, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Jinan, China) with 3 and 2% total body surface area (TBSA) burns, respectively. Surgical debridement was performed and immunosuppressants were administered during the patients’ treatment. The patients were treated successfully and had made a complete recovery following 21 days. From these cases it was examined how paraquat may cause skin injuries and occasionally poisoning. To the best of our knowledge, cases of paraquat poisoning are rare in China. A review of the relevant literature was performed.