Children's Plasma Cholinesterase Activity and Fatal
Methomyl Poisoning
WERA WAN RUANGYUTTIKARN, Ph.D.*,
WIPAWADEE SAINUMTAN, B.Sc.***,
TANYAPORN PHAKDEEWUT, B.Sc.**,
PONGRAK SRIBANDITMONGKOL, M.D., Ph.D.*
Affiliation : * Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University,
** Faculty of Association of Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200,
*** Out Patient and Emergency Nursing Section, Nursing Service Division, Maharat-Nakom Chiang Mai Hospital,
Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
AbstractThere is a case of a couple who intentionally killed their children with methomyl insec-
ticide. This was presented as our initial investigation of plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity in
Thai children. A hundred and five healthy Thai children 5-6 years of age, participate~ in the
project. Their plasma was drawn to measure ChE activity. Mean ± standard deviation of the
children ChE was 7,417 ± 1,620 UIL. The enzyme activity of the children was not significantly
different between gender and parents' occupations. However, the mean of female ChE activity
appeared to be lower than male ChE. Children whose parents were farmers appeared to have
lower ChE activity than those whose parents were employees, merchants, government officers,
unemployed parents, or private business owners. Two victims of child homicide were presented
with ChE activity approximately 6 and 9 per cent of the average, considering healthy children.
It was concluded that children's plasma ChE activity lower than 10 per cent of normal, could be
a lethal indicator of anti-ChE insecticide poisoning.
Keywords : Children's Plasma Cholinesterase, Methomyl Poisoning
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