A hospital management algorithm for acute poisoning by Paraquat® in a pediatric population, a series of cases.

Paraquat®, or N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, is a bipyridyl compound used as a non-selective herbicide and desiccant that can cause acute poisoning through all routes of exposure. There is no known antidote, and the available treatments are based on avoiding its absorption and timely removing it, in adults and children. We describe a case series of 14 pediatric patients from the department of Cauca, Colombia, with acute intoxication after oral intake of paraquat.