Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Number of Conditions: 5
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Specialty: Toxicology
Category: Acute Poisoning
Sub-category: Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Symptoms:
tremors; sweating; anxiety; nausea; vomiting; seizures; hallucinations; delirium tremens
Root Cause:
Sudden cessation or reduction of chronic alcohol consumption leading to central nervous system hyperactivity due to downregulated GABA and upregulated glutamate pathways.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, assessment using tools like the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scale, and ruling out other causes of symptoms.
Treatment:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam), thiamine to prevent Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and supportive care.
Medications:
Diazepam or lorazepam (benzodiazepines) are first-line treatments to control withdrawal symptoms and prevent seizures. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is used to prevent neurological complications.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 50% of individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder who suddenly stop drinking. Severe forms (delirium tremens) occur in about 5%.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic alcohol use, history of withdrawal seizures, concurrent illness, electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With treatment, symptoms resolve within a few days; untreated severe withdrawal can be life-threatening.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures, delirium tremens, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, arrhythmias, death.
Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Specialty: Toxicology
Category: Acute Poisoning
Sub-category: Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Symptoms:
slurred speech; impaired coordination; confusion; vomiting; stupor; respiratory depression; hypothermia; coma
Root Cause:
Central nervous system depression caused by excessive alcohol consumption leading to toxic blood alcohol concentrations.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical presentation (history and physical exam), measurement of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and ruling out other causes of altered mental status.
Treatment:
Supportive care, airway management, oxygen if needed, intravenous fluids, correction of hypoglycemia, and monitoring for complications like aspiration or hypothermia.
Medications:
No specific antidote; thiamine (vitamin B1) is often administered to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy in high-risk individuals.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; affects millions globally, particularly in individuals who binge drink or have alcohol use disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking, low body weight, underlying liver disease, concurrent use of sedatives or opioids.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Typically resolves with prompt treatment; severe cases may lead to death if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Aspiration pneumonia, hypothermia, seizures, brain damage from hypoxia, and death.
Isopropanol Poisoning
Specialty: Toxicology
Category: Acute Poisoning
Sub-category: Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Symptoms:
drowsiness; vomiting; abdominal pain; fruity breath odor; hypotension; coma; respiratory depression
Root Cause:
Central nervous system and gastrointestinal toxicity caused by ingestion or inhalation of isopropanol, metabolized to acetone.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, serum isopropanol levels, elevated osmolal gap, and acetone presence in blood or urine.
Treatment:
Supportive care, intravenous fluids, airway protection, hemodialysis in severe cases.
Medications:
No antidote is available ; management focuses on supportive care and hemodialysis for severe toxicity.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; typically occurs due to accidental ingestion or intentional overdose.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Access to isopropanol (e.g., rubbing alcohol), substance misuse, occupational exposure.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with prompt supportive care; severe cases can result in respiratory or cardiovascular failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hemorrhagic gastritis, hypotension, multi-organ failure.
Methanol Poisoning
Specialty: Toxicology
Category: Acute Poisoning
Sub-category: Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Symptoms:
headache; nausea; vomiting; blurred vision; metabolic acidosis; confusion; seizures; blindness; coma
Root Cause:
Metabolism of methanol to formic acid leads to severe metabolic acidosis and optic nerve toxicity.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Measurement of serum methanol levels, metabolic acidosis with increased anion and osmolal gap, and clinical symptoms.
Treatment:
Administration of fomepizole or ethanol to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase, correction of acidosis with bicarbonate, and hemodialysis to remove methanol and formic acid.
Medications:
Fomepizole or ethanol (alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors); sodium bicarbonate for acidosis.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; occurs due to ingestion of adulterated alcohol or industrial exposure.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Access to methanol-containing products, substance misuse, occupational hazards.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With early treatment, prognosis is good; delayed treatment can result in blindness or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent blindness, multi-organ failure, death.
Ethylene Glycol Poisoning
Specialty: Toxicology
Category: Acute Poisoning
Sub-category: Alcohol-Related Toxicity
Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; metabolic acidosis; seizures; kidney failure; coma
Root Cause:
Metabolism of ethylene glycol to toxic metabolites (glycolic acid, oxalic acid) causes metabolic acidosis, renal toxicity, and crystalluria.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Elevated anion and osmolal gap, presence of calcium oxalate crystals in urine, serum ethylene glycol levels.
Treatment:
Fomepizole or ethanol to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase, bicarbonate for acidosis, and hemodialysis for severe poisoning.
Medications:
Fomepizole or ethanol (alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors); pyridoxine and thiamine may support metabolism.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Uncommon; typically involves accidental or intentional ingestion of antifreeze.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Access to ethylene glycol-containing products, substance misuse, occupational exposure.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early treatment; delayed or untreated cases often result in severe renal damage or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute kidney injury, metabolic acidosis, neurological damage, death.