Paraquat lung


Lung disease caused by the contact herbicide paraquat, which selectively accumulates in the lungs and is highly toxic. The prognosis depends upon the severity of exposure. Paraquat lung is rare because the herbicide must be directly inhaled to cause the disease. Paraquat lung emerged as a health concern in the 1970s, when the US government sprayed paraquat aerially over some illegal marijuana fields. Some of the sprayed plants survived and were sold, causing paraquat lung in purchasers who smoked the product.

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    A plant or an animal organism that lives in or on another and takes its nourishment from that other organism. Parasitic diseases include infections that are due to protozoa, helminths, or arthropods. For example, malaria is caused by Plasmodium, a parasitic protozoa.

  • Parasitemia

    The presence of parasites in the blood. In malaria, a measure called the parasitemia index reflects the severity of the disease.

  • Parasitic

    Having to do with a parasite, as in a parasitic infection; or acting like a parasite by taking nourishment from another.

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    Flukes live in different locations in the body, including the intestines, bladder, rectum, liver, spleen, lungs and veins. Flukes first mature inside freshwater snails. After leaving the snails, they can enter the body of humans by penetrating the skin of persons swimming, bathing or washing in water where flukes are active. Infected persons can re-contaminate […]

  • Parasitosis

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