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Inadvertent Isopropyl Alcohol Toxicity in Geriatrics: Explorating Diagnostic Dilemmas in Hand Sanitizer Exposure

Vijay Kumar S S, Shabbir Shekhli, Anila Jose, Ananth Prasad Rao HT

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Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine 10 (4):p 252-256, October - December 2024. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.10424.11

How Cite This Article:

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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Data Sharing Statement

There are no additional data available.

Funding

This research received no funding.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.

Acknowledgements

Information not provided.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.


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Cite this article

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.


Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


Received Accepted Published
August 14, 2024 October 05, 2024 December 15, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.10424.11

Keywords

Propyl alcohol toxicityAltered mental statusHand sanitizer poisoning

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Received August 14, 2024
Accepted October 05, 2024
Published December 15, 2024

licence


Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


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