Alcohol Intoxication and Its Complications
Alcohol is available in several forms commercially.
The common forms are toddy (5%), beer (5-10%), wine (10-30%), arrack (40-60%) and gin, whiskey and brandy (45-60%).
Illicitly distilled liquor may contain several chemical impurities which could be of bad effect of Human health.
Absorption of alcohol from the stomach and small intestine is rapid and detectable blood levels occur within five minutes of ingestion, reaching the highest levels in 30-90 minutes.
The peak level is maintained for 2 hours.
Fat in the food impedes absorption.
Alcohol is widely distributed in tissues.
It appears in the CSF, urine and alveolar air.
Alcohol is metabolized primarily in the liver.
It supplies energy like carbohydrates, though it has not nutritive value.
Consumption of alcohol is not a criminal offense till it leads to alcoholic intoxication and antisocial behavior.
Both the physical and psychiatric disturbances caused by alcohol fall under the purview of physicians.
Alcohol produces acute and chronic gastritis, acute intoxication ranging from excitement to coma, various nutritional and nervous disorders, and hepatic damage.
long-term use of large amounts of alcohol results in parenchymal damage to several organ systems like the liver, heart and brain.
Acute gastritis: This occurs in people who consume spirits in large amounts.
It is characterized by severe vomiting, abdominal pain and headache.
The vomiting responds to any phenothiazine such as triflupromazine (Siquil).
Oral antacids and intravenous fluids are required in cases which show persistent vomiting.
The cerebral effects of alcohol start within minutes of ingestion.
The amount of alcohol and the extent of habituation of the patient determine the clinical picture.
Slurring of speech and loss of refined mental and physical capacities occur when the blood level is 0.
5g/liter.
At 3g/liter, ataxia, double vision, tremor, incoherent speech, and serious less of mental capacity are evident.
Blood levels above 5g/Liter are fatal.
Death occurs in Coma, and is caused by respiratory failure.
Diagnosis: Alcoholic intoxication should be suspected from the smell of alcohol, clinical picture and the circumstances.
Estimation of the levels of alcohol in urine, blood, or expired air help in confirming the diagnosis.
Samples of 10 ml of Urine and 2 ml of blood should be collected and sent in sealed bottles for chemical examination.
All other organic causes of coma, hysterical conversion reaction, psychiatric disorders and malingering should be excluded.
Treatment: Supportive treatment as in the case of Coma is instituted without delay.
Intravenous administration of dextrose solution (500 ml of 20% solution followed by 1 liter of 5% solution) along with massive doses of vitamin B complex factors and Vitamin C are beneficial.
Early treatment improves the prognosis.
Common complications include aspiration Pneumonia and Lung abscess.
Psychiatric assessment is necessary to avoid recurrence.
The common forms are toddy (5%), beer (5-10%), wine (10-30%), arrack (40-60%) and gin, whiskey and brandy (45-60%).
Illicitly distilled liquor may contain several chemical impurities which could be of bad effect of Human health.
Absorption of alcohol from the stomach and small intestine is rapid and detectable blood levels occur within five minutes of ingestion, reaching the highest levels in 30-90 minutes.
The peak level is maintained for 2 hours.
Fat in the food impedes absorption.
Alcohol is widely distributed in tissues.
It appears in the CSF, urine and alveolar air.
Alcohol is metabolized primarily in the liver.
It supplies energy like carbohydrates, though it has not nutritive value.
Consumption of alcohol is not a criminal offense till it leads to alcoholic intoxication and antisocial behavior.
Both the physical and psychiatric disturbances caused by alcohol fall under the purview of physicians.
Alcohol produces acute and chronic gastritis, acute intoxication ranging from excitement to coma, various nutritional and nervous disorders, and hepatic damage.
long-term use of large amounts of alcohol results in parenchymal damage to several organ systems like the liver, heart and brain.
Acute gastritis: This occurs in people who consume spirits in large amounts.
It is characterized by severe vomiting, abdominal pain and headache.
The vomiting responds to any phenothiazine such as triflupromazine (Siquil).
Oral antacids and intravenous fluids are required in cases which show persistent vomiting.
The cerebral effects of alcohol start within minutes of ingestion.
The amount of alcohol and the extent of habituation of the patient determine the clinical picture.
Slurring of speech and loss of refined mental and physical capacities occur when the blood level is 0.
5g/liter.
At 3g/liter, ataxia, double vision, tremor, incoherent speech, and serious less of mental capacity are evident.
Blood levels above 5g/Liter are fatal.
Death occurs in Coma, and is caused by respiratory failure.
Diagnosis: Alcoholic intoxication should be suspected from the smell of alcohol, clinical picture and the circumstances.
Estimation of the levels of alcohol in urine, blood, or expired air help in confirming the diagnosis.
Samples of 10 ml of Urine and 2 ml of blood should be collected and sent in sealed bottles for chemical examination.
All other organic causes of coma, hysterical conversion reaction, psychiatric disorders and malingering should be excluded.
Treatment: Supportive treatment as in the case of Coma is instituted without delay.
Intravenous administration of dextrose solution (500 ml of 20% solution followed by 1 liter of 5% solution) along with massive doses of vitamin B complex factors and Vitamin C are beneficial.
Early treatment improves the prognosis.
Common complications include aspiration Pneumonia and Lung abscess.
Psychiatric assessment is necessary to avoid recurrence.