[Peripheral neuropathy induced by acute methyl bromide skin exposure: a case report].
BACKGROUND
Methyl bromide is a pesticide used as a fumigating agent in homes, for food storage and soil disinfection. Chronic and acute exposures to methyl bromide are known to cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous system.


METHODS
We describe a case of a 31-year-old patient who developed a peripheral neuropathy due to an acute exposure on skin of methyl bromide. This patient was admitted after an accidental dermal exposure to methyl bromide while fumigating dates. The patient suffered dermal burns and vesicles on the upper limbs. Two weeks following exposure, she developed weakness of the lower and upper limbs, ataxia, paresthesiae of both legs and arms, abolition of tendon reflexes in the upper and lower limbs and Babinski sign. An axonal neuropathy was detected at the electrophysiological study. The patient recovered gradually.


CONCLUSIONS
While cases of methyl bromide are rare, this study illustrates the toxic effect on the peripheral nervous system.
Ben Slamia
L
L
Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie. lamia_benslamia@yahoo.com
Harzallah
S
S
Lamouchi
T
T
Sakli
G
G
Dogui
M
M
Ben Amou
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005651:Fumigation; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000506:poisoning*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; C005218:methyl bromide