Dilemma in the management of methanol poisoning at a district hospital in Malaysia

Author: Qin Jian Low ¹ ; Lee Karl Thien ¹ ; Tzyy Huei Lim ¹ ; Carwen Siaw ¹ ; Seng Wee Cheo ² ; Nin Ern Tan ³ ; Qamruddin Reza Murad ³
Author Information

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
2. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Lahad Datu, Peti Bersurat 60065, 91110, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia
3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Melaka, 75400 Melaka, Malaysia
Publication Type:Case Reports
From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):442-444
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: There are increasing reports of methanol poisoning (MP) incidence worldwide. In Malaysia, the largest first methanol poisoning was reported in Selangor in 2013 with a total of 41 patients and cluster of cases been reported from the country since then. Often MP involved adulterated alcohol containing more than the legal permissible concentration of methanol. Methanol is rapidly absorbed and metabolised into formic acid which causes variable symptoms of the central nervous system such as blindness, seizure, coma and gastrointestinal disturbances. Mortality could reach up to 83% as reported using the coma state, pH and pCO2 level in the worst-case scenario.