Transdermal Spirit (Methanol) Poisoning: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Methanol is a highly toxic substance and methanol poisoning results in severe health situations. Methanol poisoning occurs when it is consumed by various methods such as orally, by inhalation, and transdermally. Transdermal poisoning is rarely seen and causes severe health complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency room due to blurred vision and knee pain. He had wrapped alcohol soaked cotton around his knees because of pain, and left it for 10 hours at night. On physical examination the knees only exhibited redness. Upon funduscopic examination, signs of poisoning were not seen, but a high anion gap metabolic acidosis was shown by arterial blood gas analysis. Hemodialysis was performed for severe acidosis and the patient was admitted to the ICU. The patient was treated and discharged from the ICU without sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Methanol poisoning presents to the emergency department in our country with many different situations and with varying histories. In different parts of the world, transdermal intoxication cases may be more prevalent and they may be overlooked, therefore, we aimed to present this case.