Paraquat poisoning in pregnancy

ABSTRACT Paraquat, a toxic herbicide, continues to be widely used in developing nations despite restrictions and severe health risks. Several cases of poisoning have been reported due to intentional ingestion, producing dose-dependent clinical manifestations, chiefly targeting the lungs and kidneys. However, only a few cases have been reported in pregnancy. We report mortality due to paraquat-induced lung injury in a young pregnant woman, in whom the poisoning occurred following the ingestion of paraquat-contaminated soil as part of pregnancy-induced pica. The case underscores the critical need for early recognition and intervention.