Citation

Mizuta S, Miyakoshi T, Matsui K, Nakayama Y, Koshida Y. Cureus 2024; 16(3): e57060.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Curēus)

DOI

10.7759/cureus.57060

PMID

38681359

PMCID

PMC11052507

Abstract

Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is a drug widely used as a pharmaceutical and synthetic raw material. On the other hand, it is highly toxic and requires management and treatment as a hazardous substance. A mass outbreak of chemical burns resulting from DMS poisoning occurred at a drug factory. All three patients were brought to our hospital, a tertiary emergency medical facility, several hours after exposure. Their vital signs were stable, with only eye pain and a sore throat. However, after admission, two patients required emergency tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation due to laryngeal edema. Improvement was achieved through the administration of steroids, but a severely injured patient required an extended treatment period. DMS poisoning is rare; however, it can be fatal depending on the exposure concentration. Furthermore, even if the initial symptoms are mild, laryngeal edema may develop later, requiring careful monitoring and appropriate airway interventions.

Language: en

Keywords

airway emergency; chemical burns; dimethyl sulfate; mass outbreak; poisoning