PARAQUAT POISONING BY SKIN ABSORPTION - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two cases of paraquat poisoning resulting from skin absorption are rep orted. One patient died from respiratory failure 26 d after deliberate application of the herbicide onto his whole body as a treatment for s cabies. The other patient developed extensive dermatitis (probably a c omplication of preexisting psoriasis). Only a moderate and transitory impairment of this latter patient's renal and respiratory functions we re observed after repeated exposure of his damaged skin to a dilute pa raquat spray.