Accidental poisoning with aluminum phosphide presenting with excessive cholinergic symptoms with response to atropine: A case report

Abubakar Muhammad Shakur; Nuhu Abubakar Garba; Ibrahim Ahmadu; Daniel Apollos; Mustafa O Asani; Ibrahim Aliyu

doi:10.4103/ajm.ajm_156_20

Accidental poisoning with aluminum phosphide presenting with excessive cholinergic symptoms with response to atropine: A case report

Avicenna J Med. 2021 Jan 5;11(1):58-61. doi: 10.4103/ajm.ajm_156_20. eCollection 2021 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Abubakar Muhammad Shakur¹, Nuhu Abubakar Garba², Ibrahim Ahmadu¹, Daniel Apollos³, Mustafa O Asani¹, Ibrahim Aliyu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Cardiopulmonary Unit, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
² Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Paediatrics, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Accidental poisoning in children, though underreported in our environment, is common and could prove fatal. It is important to identify the primary chemical agent that is responsible for the poisoning. We present a case of accidental ingestion of fish poisoned with aluminum phosphide (AlP) used as rat poisoning by a 14-month-old girl. At presentation, the actual chemical content of the poison was not available and clinical features were suggestive of organophosphate poisoning. She was commenced on atropine together with other treatment, on which she made remarkable improvement. The atropine was continued with complete resolution of symptoms on the third day of admission. We, therefore, report a serendipitous use of atropine in the management of AlP poisoning with successful outcome.

Keywords: Aluminum phosphide; atropine; organophosphate; poisoning; rat poisoning.

Publication types

Case Reports