Chronic severe methanol intoxication after repeated mask cleansing for fear to COVID‐19 – a new risk of coronaphobia

• Published in: European Journal of Neurology 2021
• Main Authors: Markel Erburu‐Iriarte, Patricia Rodrigo‐Armenteros, Iñigo Oyarzun‐Irazu, Ines Aranzabal‐Alustiza, Saul Silvarrey‐Rodriguez, Lander Antón‐Méndez, Juan Carlos García‐Moncó
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.14779

Background Disproportionate fear to contract COVD‐19 (coronaphobia) may result in inappropriate use of preventive measures that could, in turn, result in severe damage to the patient. Objective To describe a patient with subacute parkinsonism and cognitive dysfunction and MRI evidence of bilateral deep white matter and basal ganglia damage. Case presentation A 56‐year‐old female presented with a 4‐week history of insomnia, cognitive decline, and parkinsonism. Brain MRI revealed a bilateral lesion of both globus pallidus, deep white matter, and cerebellar hemispheres. Her son informed that, for the previous month, she had been cleaning her facial mask 3 times a day with a pure methanol solution as a disinfectant for an intense fear of acquiring COVID‐19. Previously, she had used 97% isopropyl alcohol and inadvertently switched to methanol. After exposure ended, she slowly improved but 4 months later she remains severely disabled. Conclusions The repeated exposure to methanol vapor, the MRI findings and the absence of other aetiologies for her cognitive and parkinsonian features led to the diagnosis of chronic methanol intoxication with severe central nervous system damage. Misinformation is a likely contributory factor to these situations. Efforts should be made by the scientific community to avoid self‐damaging behaviours as a result of coronaphobia.