Vijay Kumar S S Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, India
Shabbir Shekhli Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore 560074, India
Anila Jose Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences Chalakka, Kunnukara 683594, India
Ananth Prasad Rao HT Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, India
Address for correspondence: Ananth Prasad Rao HT, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, India E-mail: drinfinityrao@gmail.com
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SS VK, Shekhli S, Jose A, Rao HT. Inadvertent isopropyl alcohol toxicity in geriatrics: exploring diagnostic dilemmas in hand sanitizer exposure. Ind J Emerg Med. 2024;10(4):252-6.
Timeline
Received : August 14, 2024
Accepted : October 05, 2024
Published : December 15, 2024
Abstract
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers for hygiene management has significantly increased their presence in households. This case report details a rare instance of acute isopropyl alcohol poisoning (AIpAP) in a 78-year-old female, who accidentally ingested hand sanitizer, mistaking it for a beverage. The patient presented with severe symptoms, including unresponsiveness and vomiting, requiring immediate medical attention. Despite the gravity of her condition, conservative treatment led to a full recovery. This case emphasizes the urgent need for public education on the safe storage and labeling of hand sanitizers to prevent accidental ingestion and highlights the importance of considering AIpAP in the differential diagnosis of unexplained consciousness disorders.
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This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Acknowledgements
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Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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SS VK, Shekhli S, Jose A, Rao HT. Inadvertent isopropyl alcohol toxicity in geriatrics: exploring diagnostic dilemmas in hand sanitizer exposure. Ind J Emerg Med. 2024;10(4):252-6.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt,
and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes
only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt,
and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes
only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.