Diazinon poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Diazinon is an insecticide, a product used to kill or control bugs. Poisoning can occur if you swallow diazinon.
P This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.
P For information on other insecticide poisonings, see Insecticides.

T Poisonous Ingredient
P Diazinon is the poisonous ingredient in these products.

T Where Found
P Diazinon is an ingredient found in some insecticides. In 2004, the FDA banned the sale of household products containing diazinon.

T Symptoms
P Below are symptoms of diazinon poisoning in different parts of the body.
P AIRWAYS AND LUNGS
- Chest tightness
- Difficulty breathing
- No breathing
P BLADDER AND KIDNEYS
- Increased urination
- Inability to control urine flow (incontinence)
P EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
- Increased salivation
- Increased tears in the eyes
- Small or dilated pupils that do not react to light
P HEART AND BLOOD
- Low or high blood pressure
- Slow or rapid heart rate
- Weakness
P NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Coma
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Muscle Twitching
P SKIN
- Blue lips and fingernails
- Sweating
P STOMACH AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting

T Home Care
P Call the poison control center for appropriate treatment instructions. If the insecticide is on the skin, wash the area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes.
P Throw away all contaminated clothing. Follow instructions from the appropriate agencies for getting rid of hazardous waste. Wear protective gloves when touching contaminated clothing.

T Before Calling Emergency
P Have this information ready:
- Person's age, weight, and condition
- Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known)
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed

T Poison Control
P Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions.
P This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

T What to Expect at the Emergency Room
P Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
P People who have been poisoned by diazinon will likely be treated by first responders (firefighters, paramedics) who arrive when you call your local emergency number. These responders will decontaminate the person by removing the person's clothes and washing them down with water. The responders will wear protective gear. If the person is not decontaminated before getting to the hospital, emergency room personnel will decontaminate the person and provide other treatment.
P The health care providers at the hospital will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:
- Blood and urine tests
- Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine
- Chest x-ray
- CT (computerized tomography) scan (advanced brain imaging)
- ECG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)
- Intravenous fluids (through a vein)
- Medicines to reverse the effects of the poison
- Tube placed down the nose and into the stomach (sometimes)
- Washing of the skin (irrigation) and eyes, perhaps every few hours for several days

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P People who continue to improve over the first 4 to 6 hours after receiving medical treatment usually recover. Prolonged treatment often is needed to reverse the poisoning. This may include staying in the hospital intensive care unit and getting long-term therapy. Some effects of the poison may last for weeks or months, or even longer.
P Keep all chemicals, cleaners, and industrial products in their original containers and marked as poison, and out of the reach of children. This will reduce the risk of poisoning and overdose.

T Alternative Names
P Bazinon poisoning; Diazol poisoning; Gardentox poisoning; Knox-Out poisoning; Spectracide poisoning

T References
P Cannon RD, Ruha A-M. Insecticides, herbicides, and rodenticides. In: Adams JG, ed. Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 146.
P Welker K, Thompson TM. Pesticides. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 157.

T Review Date 7/9/2017
P Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

