Fatal Fulminant Hepatic Failure in a Case of Zinc Phosphide Poisoning: A Case Report

Abstract

Rodenticide is the term given for the compounds that are used in the killing of rats. The commonest compounds that are available as rodenticides are Aluminum phosphide, Zinc Phosphide, Yellow Phosphorus and Coumarins. Due to their easy availability in the general stores, these also have been used as a source of inflicting self-harm by the patients in order to commit suicide. Most of the patients escape the poisonous side effects with a mild course, but some cases progress to a state of Acute liver failure or fulminant liver failure. Due to the broad range of symptoms that can occur with the compounds, it is important to discuss the course of progression of symptoms from mild to severe in order to understand the treatment protocols to treat the patient appropriately. Some patients progress to such a severe form of symptoms that there is an urgent indication of liver transplantation. Here we report a case of rodenticide poisoning in a young female which started off with a mild course and ultimately progressed to fulminant liver failure leading to a fatal outcome.