Salicylate Toxicity from Genital Exposure to a Methylsalicylate-Containing Rubefacient. 2016

Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
The University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

Methylsalicylate-containing rubefacients have been reported to cause salicylate poisoning after ingestion, topical application to abnormal skin, and inappropriate topical application to normal skin. Many over-the-counter products contain methylsalicylate. Topical salicylates rarely produce systemic toxicity when used appropriately; however, methylsaliclyate can be absorbed through intact skin. Scrotal skin can have up to 40-fold greater absorption compared to other dermal regions. We report a unique case of salicylate poisoning resulting from the use of a methylsalicylate-containing rubefacient to facilitate masturbation in a male teenager. Saliclyate toxicity has not previously been reported from the genital exposure to methylsaliclyate.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007509 Irritants Drugs that act locally on cutaneous or mucosal surfaces to produce inflammation; those that cause redness due to hyperemia are rubefacients; those that raise blisters are vesicants and those that penetrate sebaceous glands and cause abscesses are pustulants; tear gases and mustard gases are also irritants. Counterirritant,Counterirritants,Irritant,Pustulant,Pustulants,Rubefacient,Rubefacients,Vesicant,Vesicants
D008297 Male Males
D008418 Masturbation Sexual stimulation or gratification of the self. Masturbations
D004366 Nonprescription Drugs Medicines that can be sold legally without a DRUG PRESCRIPTION. Drugs, Non-Prescription,Non-Prescription Drug,Nonprescription Drug,OTC Drug,OTC Drugs,Over-the-Counter Drug,Over-the-Counter Drugs,Patent Medicine,Patent Medicines,Drugs, Nonprescription,Medicines, Patent,Non-Prescription Drugs,Drug, Non-Prescription,Drug, Nonprescription,Drug, OTC,Drug, Over-the-Counter,Drugs, Non Prescription,Drugs, OTC,Drugs, Over-the-Counter,Medicine, Patent,Non Prescription Drug,Non Prescription Drugs,Over the Counter Drug,Over the Counter Drugs
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D012459 Salicylates The salts or esters of salicylic acids, or salicylate esters of an organic acid. Some of these have analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Salicylate,Salicylic Acids,Acids, Salicylic
D012869 Skin Absorption Uptake of substances through the SKIN. Absorption, Skin,Intracutaneous Absorption,Intradermal Absorption,Percutaneous Absorption,Transcutaneous Absorption,Transdermal Absorption,Absorption, Intracutaneous,Absorption, Intradermal,Absorption, Percutaneous,Absorption, Transcutaneous,Absorption, Transdermal,Absorptions, Intracutaneous,Absorptions, Intradermal,Absorptions, Percutaneous,Absorptions, Skin,Absorptions, Transcutaneous,Absorptions, Transdermal,Intracutaneous Absorptions,Intradermal Absorptions,Percutaneous Absorptions,Skin Absorptions,Transcutaneous Absorptions,Transdermal Absorptions
D017693 Sodium Bicarbonate A white, crystalline powder that is commonly used as a pH buffering agent, an electrolyte replenisher, systemic alkalizer and in topical cleansing solutions. Baking Soda,Carbonic Acid Monosodium Salt,Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate,Bicarbonate, Sodium,Hydrogen Carbonate, Sodium,Soda, Baking

Related Publications

Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
August 2015, Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
March 2020, Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.),
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
December 1991, The Western journal of medicine,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
June 2020, The New England journal of medicine,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
September 2020, The New England journal of medicine,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
April 1986, Pediatric clinics of North America,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
February 2017, Critical reviews in toxicology,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
November 2020, BMJ case reports,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
December 1974, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Trevonne M Thompson, and Theodore Toerne, and Timothy B Erickson
September 2020, The New England journal of medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!