An agromedicine initiative for first-year medical students, 1998-2004: biochemistry seminar proves feasible.

This report describes a 20 class-hour, 10-session seminar on agromedicine-oriented topics, delivered as part of a basic science course for medical students (biochemistry) at the Medical University of South Carolina. The course was initiated in 1998 and continued through 2004. The preceptors are family medicine and agricultural research professors.

Fire ant anaphylaxis: two critical cases in South Carolina.

Two clinical cases illustrate near-fatal reactions to fire ant venom encountered by an infant playing in the backyard, and by a pharmacist working indoors in a hospital setting under a ceiling ventilation duct.

Recognition and management of acute pesticide poisoning.

Most poisonings from pesticides do not have a specific antidote, making decontamination the most important intervention. For maximal benefit to the patient, skin, eye, and gastric decontamination should be undertaken while specifics of the poisoning are being determined. As in most illnesses and injuries, the history of the poisoning is of great importance and will determine specific needs for decontamination and therapy, if any exist.