Almost all cases of acute
methanol intoxication result from
ingestion.
Absorption of
methanol following
oral administration is rapid and peak concentration occurs within 30-60 min. Foromic
acid converted metabolites of
methanol are responsible for its toxic effect.
Methanol poisoning typically induces
nausea,
vomiting,
abdominal pain, and mild
central nervous system depression. Then there is a latent period lasting, followed by an uncompensated
metabolic acidosis and visual dysfunction, depending on the
dose of
methanol ingested. Here we
report on three
patients who were victims of
methanol intoxication due to
ingestion of windshield washer fluid, which was misidentified as an
alcoholic beverage. One
patient had a mild form, which included abdominal discomfort, another
patient had a moderate case, which included
nausea,
vomiting, and
acidosis, and the other
patient had severe
acidosis and altered mentality and visual dysfunction. Except one case of visual dysfunction, all three
patients recovered successfully following medical
treatment and
hemodialysis.