Organophosphate poisoning is a common method of suicide and suicidal attempt, especially in developing countries. Most of these people present to the primary care units of the hospital. Organophosphate inhibits the enzyme acetyle cholinesterase. It is the enzyme responsible to remove excess amounts of acetyle choline from the body. As a result there is increased cholinergic activity throughout the body. Acetyle choline has two types of receptors. They are muscarinic receptors and nicotininc receptors. Organophasphate causes overstimulation of both of these receptors. As a result the person's pulse rate reduces, his pupils become pin point and his air ways begin to accumulate secretion. He also begin to have increased salivation and increased sweating.
The antidote to treat organophosphate poisoning is atropine. It is a muscarinic receptor antagonist. It is given to everybody who present with symptoms of organophosphate poisoning. The patients are adequetly atropinised until the sings of organophosphate disappear. Sometimes the patients are over atropinised. As a result they show sings and symptoms of atropine poisoning. So, the person becomes tachycardic.
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