TITLE:
A Curious Case of Methaemoglobinemia
AUTHORS:
Farris Latief, Joseph Ngwira, Ali Saiepour, Amirah Latief
KEYWORDS:
Methaemoglobinaemia, Hypoxia, Cocaine, Drug Induced
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.15 No.2,
February
10,
2023
ABSTRACT: The most frequent cause of raised methaemoglobin is from recreational drug use, with oxidation of the haem molecule leading to methaemoglobinaemia. Our case describes that of a man in his early thirties who presented with shortness of breath, hypoxia and methaemoglobinemia due to ingestion of impure cocaine mixed with local anaesthetic agents, a common cause of acquired methaemoglobinemia. This case report demonstrates the need for clinicians to consider methaemoglobinaemia as a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with hypoxia.