What are common symptoms of organophosphate poisoning?

Organophosphate poisoning is primarily associated with the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme crucial for the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft. This inhibition leads to an accumulation of acetylcholine, resulting in overstimulation of cholinergic receptors throughout the body. The common symptoms of organophosphate poisoning can be remembered using the acronym SLUDGE, which stands for Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Diarrhea, Gastrointestinal distress, and Emesis (vomiting). Additionally, muscle weakness is a result of the persistent stimulation of the neuromuscular junctions.

The presence of constricted pupils (miosis) can also be linked to the excessive activity at the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Consequently, the symptoms listed in the first option—constricted pupils, diarrhea, urination, and muscle weakness—align perfectly with the expected clinical presentation of someone who has been exposed to organophosphates. Understanding these signs is critical in emergency medicine and toxicology, as prompt recognition and treatment are essential to prevent serious complications or death in cases of exposure.

In contrast, the other choices list symptoms that are not typically associated with organophosphate poisoning, as they do not stem from the