Acute Hexogen Poisoning After Occupational Exposure

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hexogen (cyclonite, RDX) nitrate explosive is an infrequent cause of poisoning. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old man with no prior history of epilepsy experienced grand mal seizures after sieving fine hexogen (RDX) powder for four hours in an ammunition plant. Physical examination was normal on arrival at the emergency room but recurrent seizures occurred six hour after admission. EEG, CT scan and MRI were normal and the patient recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: The available toxicological data on this rare occupational poisoning are reviewed.