A methanol poisoning outbreak occurred in Iran during the initial months of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of the outbreak in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. A cross-sectional linkage study was conducted based on the hospitalization data collected from thirteen referral toxicology centers throughout Iran as well as mortality data obtained from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (LMO). Patient data were extracted for all cases aged > 19 years with toxic alcohol poisoning during the study period from February until June 2020. A total of 795 patients were hospitalized due to methanol poisoning, of whom 84 died. Median [interquartile ratio; IQR] age was 32 [26, 40] years (range 19–91 years). Patients had generally ingested alcohol for recreational motives (653, 82.1%) while 3.1% (n = 25) had consumed alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent or cure COVID-19 infection. Age was significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors (P < 0.001) and in patients without sequelae vs. with sequelae (P = 0.026). Twenty non-survivors presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score > 8, six of whom were completely alert on presentation to the emergency departments. The time from alcohol ingestion to hospital admission was not significantly different between provinces. In East Azerbaijan province, where hemodialysis was started within on average 60 min of admission, the rate of sequelae was 11.4% (compared to 19.6% average of other provinces)—equivalent to a reduction of the odds of sequelae by 2.1 times [95% CI 1.2, 3.7; p = 0.009]. Older patients were more prone to fatal outcome and sequelae, including visual disturbances. Early arrival at the hospital can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment and may reduce long-term morbidity from methanol poisoning. Our data thus suggest the importance of raising public awareness of the risks and early symptoms of methanol intoxication.

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Background: Aluminum phosphide (ALP) poisoning is considered one of the health care issues in Iran, which is associated with the mortality outcome of patients. Introduction: ALP poisoning and deaths leading to deaths with aluminum phosphide, we try to evaluate the prevalence of ALP pill poisoning by register-based research. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all selected patients diagnosed and confirmed with ALP poisoning by a specialist who was referred to the poisoning ward from the beginning of April 2016 to the end of October 2017 were enrolled, and data were registered in the Disease Registration System by a technical expert for daily follow up during hospitalization. Results: About 12.4% of patients had neurological problems with the majority of paresis (68.3%). Self-poisoning for 96.2% of cases was documented as a suicide with the most common cause of family problems (54.1%). In 97.3% of cases, the method of contact with the toxic substance was oral. Hypotension, cardiac, and respiratory complications were observed in 25.2%, 30.8%, and 25%, respectively. The most gastrointestinal symptoms were nausea/vomiting (86.7%). Conclusion: The results show that the rate of ALP pill poisoning is relatively high. Suicide is the most important cause of ALP poisoning, which is more common in men under 40 years of age.