Woman sprays dichlorvos to treat eczema, suffers pesticide poisoning; doctor reminds public to use folk remedies with caution

Wuhan Evening News, December 29 (Reporter Liu Xuan, Correspondent Jin Yuxin) Having suffered from eczema for years and tried every method without a permanent cure, a few days ago she got a "folk recipe" from a friend to kill the eczema with dichlorvos. Unexpectedly, after spraying the pesticide she felt dizzy and nauseous, and only learned upon arriving at the hospital that she had pesticide poisoning. Fortunately, the amount used was small and she was taken to the hospital in time; after treatment she is now out of danger.

Aunt Qin, 57, lives on Jianshe 3rd Road in Qingshan. She suffers from generalized eczema, with unbearable itching all over her body, and has been tormented by it for years; repeated treatments have always failed to cure it at the root. A few days ago, Aunt Qin's eczema flared up again, and when chatting with a friend she complained a little, so the friend told her a folk remedy for eczema: spray dichlorvos on the itchy areas to "kill" the stubborn eczema.

On December 28, Aunt Qin asked someone to buy a bottle of dichlorvos from the countryside. Worried about an allergic reaction, she first applied some to her limbs to try it. Half an hour later, she felt dizzy and nauseous, and was drenched in sweat. Seeing this, her son rushed her to the nearby Wuhan Puren Hospital. After detailed consultation, the doctor diagnosed pesticide poisoning.

Dr. Fang Xiangming, director of the hospital's gastroenterology department, said that every year the hospital admits many critically ill patients transferred from local areas due to pesticide poisoning. Dichlorvos is an organophosphate insecticide; it is not only ingested that causes poisoning. After the substance contacts the skin, it can be absorbed through the skin and may also cause poisoning or even endanger life.

Fang Xiangming reminds the public that eczema is inherently prone to recurring and is closely related to emotions and diet. In addition to proper medication, lifestyle should also be adjusted. Do not readily believe those folk remedies and nostrums circulating among the public, lest the condition be delayed or adverse consequences be caused.

[Editor: Du Juan]