Case History: Crohn’s Disease & Pesticide Exposure

The Cooperative Extension Service referred a 30-yearold man to the Agromedicine Program for consultation. One year ago the man began a new job as a commercial pesticide applicator. He has Crohn’s disease (CD) and is now concerned about pesticides exacerbating this condition or causing complications in the future. He had been exposed to a variety of insecticides and fumigants used in structural pest control.

The patient had a ten-year history of CD. His current symptoms include occasional nausea, headache and malaise that are not always associated with abdominal cramping or change in stool.

Through questioning it was learned that there had been no overall change in the frequency or severity of the flare-ups since he started the new job. It was also learned that the patient did not wear personal protective equipment as recommended on the labels of the products he was using.

A search of office reference resources and the MEDLINE database found no reports in the medical literature associating flare-ups of CD with pesticide exposure. The patient was advised of this finding. He was also advised to wear personal protective equipment as recommended on the pesticide labels and to continue to watch for any pattern between his symptoms and exposures.

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE – DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICE

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 171 ASHLEY AVENUE, CHARLESTON, SC 29425-2217