Chemical: BaCO3
Mechanism of intoxication:
(1) blockage of potassium channels in muscle
(2) intracellular accumulation of potassium
Fatal dose in the adult: 0.8 g (800 mg)
Key clinical findings: flaccid muscle paralysis
(1) with or without quadriparesis
(2) absence of deep tendon reflexes (areflexic)
Additional clinical features:
(1) blurred vision
(2) trismus
(3) excessive salivation
(4) difficulty speaking and swallowing
(5) nausea and vomiting
(6) diarrhea
(7) abdominal pain
(8) tenesmus
(9) cardiac arrhythmias with an irregular pulse
(10) rhabdomyolysis
(11) respiratory failure
Laboratory findings:
(1) severe hypokalemia
(2) evidence of barium in stool, urine or blood
Differential diagnosis:
(1) Guillain-Barre syndrome
