A case of infant death due to chlorfenapyr poisoning

Abstract

Chlorfenapyr is a novel pyrrole compound with the chemical formula C15H11BrClF3N2O, exhibiting potent insecticidal and acaricidal effects. It primarily acts on the multi-functional oxidases in the mitochondria of insects, inhibiting the conversion of adenosine diphosphate to adenosine triphosphate, leading to cellular dysfunction due to energy depletion. With increased production and market availability, the population’s exposure to chlorfenapyr has risen, resulting in a growing number of fatal poisoning incidents. This report describes the clinical presentation, disease progression, and treatment outcomes of a 2-year and 11-month-old toddler poisoned with chlorfenapyr. The child exhibited symptoms of nausea and vomiting two hours post-poisoning, received gastric lavage and fluid replacement at the local hospital, and was subsequently transferred to our facility. On admission, the child's vital signs were stable for the first two days, with normal laboratory findings. On the third day, the child showed signs of fatigue and diaphoresis, followed by high fever, profuse sweating, altered consciousness, and muscle tremors on the fourth day. By the fifth day, the child displayed rigid muscles in the limbs and trunk, respiratory and circulatory failure, despite rescue efforts proving futile, leading to eventual demise.