Tel;  071-83329.                                                                             Temple House,
Fax; 071-83808.                                                                               Ballymote,
Email: sandy@templehouse.ie                                                           Co. Sligo.
www.templehouse.ie                                                                     Rep. of Ireland.

Demographic Data

Name:  A.R.H.Perceval,
Date of Birth: 1st. September, 1944.

Born in South India on a Tea Plantation, he is one of three children, he has two younger sisters. He was allergic to M&B 2 at 2 weeks old and is allergic to products including sulphur since then.

He came to live in Ireland in 1953 and went to schools in Dublin before he went to Scotland as a mud student for one year’s forestry and one year’s sheep/cattle/arable experience with Moray Estates Co., Forres, Moray.

During this time he was given a white flag and told to mark a section of gorse for a helicopter to spray 2-4-D- brushwood killer on it. He was wet from the spray at the end of the day. During  the following summer he worked at harvest in a grain drier and was told to brush out a dusty grain bin. He had to be lifted out with ropes when he collapsed with much mucus from his nose.

He returned to work on the family estate in June ’65 to milk the dairy herd and he noticed urticaria, hay fever and asthma which was attributed to allergy to barley in the compound cattle feed. The dairy cows were treated for warble fly at that time and he describes his face and shoulders yearly dripping with the Organophosphate chemicals while he milked the cows after a shower of rain. He was at first compelled to dip the growing sheep flock in Lindane and other Organochlorine based dips. These were then superseded by Organophosphate dips; with no approved alternative products available on the Irish market.

He was an active man at that time, engaged in farming activities, walking,  shooting as well as much committee work locally and nationally. Apart from allergy to query sulphas he was otherwise asymptomatic, apart from the symptoms attributed to barley compound feeds. He was noted for his strength and could carry a 2 cwt. sack up the loft stairs. He was an occasional pipe smoker but was otherwise asymptomatic.

In the early ‘70s he was found to be allergic to Intal and was taking Ventolin therapy for his allergic rhinitis/asthma symptoms.  He had to stop milking the cows after he collapsed again in ’74 and the farm changed to suckler cows and ewes.

In 1976 he moved to his present residence, extensive treatment for dry rot and wood worm was carried out soon afterwards , including the roof spaces and the family moved out for a week. His wife describes a significant deterioration in his allergic symptoms from then.  A year later 300 gallons of home heating oil were spilt and entered the water supply 100 yards away within a year. His urticaria became pronounced and he noticed that he could not wear his wax jacket anymore.

His present symptoms appear to have onset around ’74 . At that time 150 ewes were being dipped twice yearly & the warble fly campaign was in full swing. The flock increased to over 1000 ewes over time.

He himself took an active part in the whole dipping process and was wearing water proof clothing as per recommendations on the dip tin, but no respirator as it was not recommended. The mobile dip was replaced by a circular dip on the farm which passed the Dept. Of Ag. Inspection procedure and the dipping process was monitored yearly by an appointed inspector.

His wife describes him complaining of episodes of ‘sheep dipping ‘flu’ at each such time of the year which consisted of shaking episodes, itching, occasional headache, vision changes, aches and pains in muscles and joints as well as ‘flu like symptoms. These were relieved by bed rest and lasted 24-48 hours. He sometimes shows uncharacteristic outbursts of temper at  something he’d normally laugh off and at those times he is unable to discuss anything reasonably and he exits  the room.

Over time these sheep dipping ‘flu like symptoms got gradually worse   and he had to stop being actively involved with the sheep dipping process in the mid ‘80s.

In 1990 he developed a serious reaction to sheep immediately following dipping or passing by a sheep dipping  operation in a car. This was described as flaccidity and weakness of the legs and arms, more on the left than the right side and drooping of the head. He became  confused and reacted oddly to low or bright light and sudden sounds. His wife reports that his reading ability was severely reduced and he was unable to write more than a few words some days. He complained of the cold especially when exposed to Organophosphate and sulphur containing products and noticed that his body temperature dropped by 1 1/2F within minutes of exposure to some products. Episodes of almost Temporal lobe epilepsy have been noted by two doctors,  but without loss of consciousness or control of his bladder.

Episodic attacks of arm, leg, head weakness followed by low pitched voice have been noted on exposure to a whole host of substances including perfumes, aftershaves, aerosols, room fresheners, washing powders, fabric conditioners, oil based paints, unleaded petrol, exhaust fumes, burning plastics etc... These episodes necessitate help in getting him back to his wheel chair & to bed. He can sometimes use his right leg to propel the wheel chair backwards. His wife has found that his recovery is improved by hot water bottles on his chest and legs while he sleeps under 5 blankets fully clothed. He wakes after 4-5 hours, a little hot and requires 1-2 days further bed rest before recovery.

His wife reports that he is unable to climb stairs, he finds that he cannot lift or carry anything consistently – 20kg one day, once and yet 1/2 kg can be  too much another day. His left hand sometimes locks on an object, like a plate and if it is removed slowly he can relax, but if removed abruptly he becomes confused and falls. [Parkinsons?]

Of note there is no history of loss of consciousness and no cyanosis associated with these episodes of muscle weakness. Occasional myclonic jerks follow period of loss of paralysis.

Mrs Perceval states that her husband has experienced episodes of contact dermatitis and other problems on exposure to hydrocarbons in petrol etc.
His other medical problems include obesity and he takes calcium channel entry blockers to ‘improve the blood supply to his brain’.
Mrs Perceval claims that her husband’s lifestyle is severely curtailed in terms of travel, driving, visits to unconformed environments i.e. hospitals, dental clinics, hotels, shops, offices, restaurants etc.

One of the objectives of the consultation were to determine potential safe and hazardous drug exposure associated with dental fillings and general anaesthesia for surgical procedures.
 

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