Rodenticide Toxicity Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Derrick Lung, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 16, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Congenital deficiency in clotting factor VII may present with bleeding associated with an abnormal prothrombin time (PT) but a normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). At first, this may appear to be anticoagulation from a rodenticide or Coumadin; however, with the marked prolongation in PT, some abnormality in aPTT should be present, except in specific factor VII deficiency.

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of rodenticide exposure include the following:

  • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Ammonia toxicity
  • Arsenic toxicity
  • Chlorine Gas toxicity
  • Clonidine toxicity
  • Cyanide toxicity
  • Fluoride toxicity
  • Hydrogen Sulfide toxicity

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Derrick Lung, MD, MPH  Fellow, Medical Toxicology, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; Clinical Instructor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center

Derrick Lung, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Steven Marcus, MD  Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Executive and Medical Director, New Jersey Poison Information and Education System; Consulting Staff, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Steven Marcus, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American Medical Association, and Medical Society of New Jersey

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD  Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Fred Harchelroad, MD, FACMT, FAAEM, FACEP Director of Medical Toxicology, Allegheny General Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Assaad J Sayah, MD Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance

Assaad J Sayah, MD is a member of the following medical societies: National Association of EMS Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  8. [Guideline] Caravati EM, Erdman AR, Scharman EJ, Woolf AD, Chyka PA, Cobaugh DJ, et al. Long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(1):1-22. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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