Methanol related death in National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur: A case series.
Malays J Pathol
; 42(1): 99-105, 2020 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32342937
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Methanol is a widely available chemical with a range of uses including as solvent, as a fuel, in chemical synthesis and anti-freeze preparations. Most of the cases are accidental exposures to drinking beverages contaminated with methanol. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
In mid-September 2018, there was a single outbreak of methanol poisoning in Malaysia especially involving the state of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. There were 33 reported deaths suspected due to methanol poisoning in this current outbreak where 11 of them were brought in to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Kuala Lumpur. The last outbreak was in the year 2013 with 29 deaths reported out of 44 cases.RESULTS:
There were 3 cases (27.2%) died in hospital and the remaining 8 cases (72.8%) were found dead at home and were later brought in dead to the hospital. A full autopsy was carried out for each case. Autopsy findings, as well as lab results pertaining to cases that survived and directly brought in dead, were of a different spectrum.CONCLUSION:
Methanol related deaths are almost always as a result of greed. The running truism is 'methanol poisoning is a result of deliberate addition/adulteration with industrial methanol'. Prevention of the illegal production of methanol and methylated spirits should be established to curb this matter in the future.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Neurotoxicity Syndromes
/
Methanol
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Malays J Pathol
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: