The combination of acute pancreatitis and toxic hepatitis developing secondary to exposure to malathion : a case report

Abstract

Organophosphate(OPH) compounds are cholinesterase-inhibiting chemicals used as pesticide. Pancreatitis secondary to malathion toxicity is rare and toxic hepatitis has been reported in only one case. In this paper, we report the case of the combination of acute pancreatitis and toxic hepatitis, which developed in a 30-year old farm worker and the mechanism is discussed in this first report of its kind. Awareness of this complication should prompt earlier investigation because early diagnosis coupled with timely therapeutic measures may improve patient prognosis.