| Popis: |
A multitude of chemical agents used in agriculture are known to have significant toxicity, many of them specifically developed to be toxic to animals. This chapter concentrates on the neurological consequences of occupational exposure to these and other common agents, including insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals, and volatile organic and plant toxins. A physician in rural practice should be acquainted with the strategies for providing emergency care, especially after acute exposure to potent toxins. Acute exposure is suggested by a set of symptoms that include rapidly developing fatigue, dizziness, nystagmus, disorientation, confusion, hallucination, as well as other neurological presentations (e.g., symptoms of intracranial hypertension such as headache, nausea, or vomiting), muscle fasciculations, seizures, or coma (1). A possibility of occupational exposure must be considered in all agricultural workers and their families; however, those who work in a confined space with little or no means of personal protection, who lack the necessary training or sufficient knowledge of the native language, or lack access to industrial hygiene data should be considered likely candidates for a detailed evaluation. Often patients provide the best clues by attributing their medical condition to a specific agent or to the possibility of exposure. Patients may complain that their symptoms were preceded by the presence of a chemical smell or a spill of a chemical. They may also note that their symptoms get worse at the end of the shift, workweek, or season. This “undulating” presentation when symptoms are less acute during the weekend or time-off periods may be of special significance as it may allow gauging of personal susceptibility to a specific agent (2,3). Occupational exposure may be suspected if the patient presents with reversible, static, or progressive neurological symptoms after removal from exposure, symptoms that occur slowly, especially if these symptoms are attributable to central nervous system (CNS) changes such as headache |
