Fatal paraquat poisonings after skin absorption.

This paper reports five cases of fatal paraquat poisoning after skin absorption in adult Papua New Guinea men. Three incidents followed occupational accidents, one victim used paraquat concentrate to treat a scabies infestation, and one used it to treat head lice. All had marked blistering and excoriation, and all died from respiratory failure. In developing countries, reporting on poisoning incidents is very limited, and treatment of paraquat poisoning is, for practical purposes, nonexistent. As paraquat is not essential for tropical agriculture, its continued use should be critically reviewed.