Infant Death Due to Aluminum Phosphide Intoxication, An Uncontrolled Insecticide Used : Case Report

Phosphine gas is a gas that is frequently used as rodenticide and insecticide due to its high diffusion capacity and the absence of residues in agricultural products. Since this gas is highly toxic, it is found in our country as aluminum phosphite tablets impregnated with clay, these tablets emit phosphine gas when they meet with the moisture in the air or gastric hydrochloric acid. Mortality rates in aluminum phosphite intoxications are 40-80% depending on the exposure dose. There is no control mechanism in the supply of aluminum phosphide tablets which are so dangerous and no information is given about the serious conditions that may occur during the use of these tablets. A 2 month old baby, whose family practiced drying pepper-eggplant, was reported to have been exposed to phosphine gas by inhalation, admitted to hospital with vomiting and cyanosis and lost his life within 24 hours. We present our case, who lost his life due to erroneous usage of aluminum phosphite, with additional emphasis on early diagnosis, treatment and gathering sample for toxicologic analysis, with corresponding forensic and medical documents