JIST

Abstract

The incidence of organophosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning is very high in India, since these compounds are used extensively as insecticides in agriculture and households. Poisoning by ingestion and through skin contact is quite common with these agents.

We report a case of transplacental transfer of dichlorvos, an organophosphorus compound, as a result of suicidal ingestion by a woman in her 24th week of pregnancy, which resulted in the death of both the mother as well as the foetus, highlighting the ease with which OPCs can cross the transplacental barrier, and the need for aggressive treatment measures in such cases.