The condition that develops when drinking ethyl alcohol is familiar to everyone who has tried alcoholic beverages at least once. Small concentrations of this chemical make a person more relaxed and cheerful. In some cases, the use of drinks containing alcohol in small quantities leads to drowsiness and apathy. It depends on the characteristics of the body's metabolism. Most people know that if you "overdo it" with alcohol, then there are less pleasant sensations. Namely - nausea, dizziness, unsteadiness when walking, vomiting. Such manifestations indicate intoxication.
Poisoning with alcohol and its surrogates
Ethyl alcohol poisoning often occurs when it is ingested. Less commonly, rubbing this substance into the skin or inhaling alcohol vapors can lead to intoxication. In these cases, we are talking about poisoning with ethyl alcohol substitutes. Almost always, when drinking alcoholic beverages, intoxication of the body occurs. How serious the poisoning is depends on the dose of alcohol andindividual characteristics. The first sign of intoxication is a euphoric state. Despite the fact that a person does not feel bad at the same time, alcohol still affects the body, causing a mild degree of poisoning. With an increase in concentration, signs of a deterioration in general well-being appear. Nausea and vomiting are observed, movements become uncoordinated, speech is slurred.
Ethyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a specific smell. It is used in medicine as a disinfectant, and is also a solvent for many medicines. In addition, ethanol is used in the food industry. It is added to various cosmetic and perfumery products. All these funds are classified as surrogates. By direct poisoning with ethyl alcohol is meant the intoxication of the body resulting from the use of alcoholic beverages. It can lead to serious consequences, including circulatory disorders, coma, mental disorders.
Causes of ethyl alcohol poisoning
Ethanol poisoning is often associated with the use of alcohol in high concentrations. The transition from the pleasant sensations that many experience when taking strong drinks to intoxication of the body is achieved when the dose of ethanol exceeds 1 ml in the blood (1 ppm). Poisoning in most cases is accidental, as a person ceases to control the amount of alcohol consumed, and symptomsdevelop over time. Sometimes alcohol intoxication occurs in children. The reason is that the parents did not keep track of the baby, who mistook the drink for water or juice and drank it. In addition to poisoning with ethyl alcohol, a person may develop intoxication when using alcohol surrogates. The reasons include the following situations:
- Reception of various chemical compounds. These include alcohols, in which there are impurities of aldehydes, methanol.
- Ingestion of cologne, refrigeration antifreeze, medicinal infusions, etc.
- Inhalation of BF glue containing ethyl alcohol and acetone.
It is worth remembering that surrogate poisoning may manifest itself differently from alcohol intoxication. In addition, the treatment of these conditions is different. Therefore, before providing assistance, it is worth finding out what exactly the person used.
The mechanism of development of alcohol intoxication
Ethanol poisoning develops as a result of complex biochemical processes occurring in the body. Most of this substance is metabolized by the liver. As you know, this body is responsible for the neutralization of toxins. The liver has a special enzyme - alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down ethanol. 10% of alcohol is excreted from the body by other organs - the kidneys and lungs.
When ethanol enters the bloodstream, the following changes occur: the phospholipid layer that makes up the membrane (shell) and cell permeability is destroyedrises. Most of all it affects the CNS. After all, alcohol is neurotoxic. Depending on the concentration and susceptibility of a person to ethanol, activation or inhibition of the central nervous system occurs. With an alcohol dose of more than 5 ppm, the vital centers of the brain are inhibited, which leads to death.
What is the difference between methyl and ethyl alcohol?
How to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol and help the patient? Despite the fact that poisoning with these substances has similar symptoms, it is necessary to know the difference between them. After all, treatment depends on it. Methyl (wood) alcohol is not used in the production of alcoholic beverages. It is used for the manufacture of antifreezes, solvents, plastics. It is also used as a fuel in some types of vehicles. And yet, how to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol? After all, in appearance, these chemical compounds are identical. Methyl alcohol, like ethanol, has no color. In addition, they have a similar smell. To distinguish these substances, it is worth setting fire to a flammable liquid. In this case, the flame from ethanol will be blue, and from methyl alcohol - green. The symptoms of poisoning with these substances are somewhat different from each other. Signs of intoxication caused by methyl alcohol develop longer - from 12 hours to a day. In addition, poisoning will not be accompanied by euphoria. Often the patient himself or his loved ones can answer the question of what exactly caused intoxication.
Ethyl alcohol poisoning: symptoms of pathology
Signs of intoxication caused by alcohol resemble poisoning by other toxic substances. The difference is a change in the psycho-emotional state. After all, poisoning with ethyl alcohol does not occur immediately after its use. This is preceded by signs of CNS excitation (mild degree of intoxication). They are characterized by an increase in mood, sweating, flushing of the skin of the face. With an average degree of poisoning, the following symptoms are observed:
- From the side of the nervous system - unsteadiness when walking, decreased muscle tone, headache. People with hypertension may develop circulatory disorders in the brain. At the same time, symptoms such as loss of sensation in the limbs, paralysis, visual impairment are noted.
- From the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. Abdominal pain is not always noted.
- From the side of the cardiovascular system - increased heart rate and pulse, increased blood pressure.
Changes are also observed in human behavior. Some people become aggressive, others become depressed. In a severe degree, a coma develops, convulsions, respiratory arrest are possible.
What can alcohol intoxication lead to?
The consequences of ethyl alcohol poisoning are often deplorable. No wonder alcoholism is considered not only a medical but also a social problem. After all, due to a change in behavior, a personceases to control his actions. This leads to car accidents, fires, criminal situations. In addition, chronic ethanol poisoning ends in severe encephalopathy that cannot be treated. There is a disorder of memory, thinking, sleep. There are also pronounced changes in the liver and pancreas. Among them are diseases - fatty hepatosis, cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis.
The consequences of acute intoxication include mental disorders - alcoholic delirium (hallucinatory syndrome, behavioral disorders), stroke, myocardial infarction, coma.
First aid for ethanol poisoning
Emergency assistance for ethyl alcohol poisoning is the introduction of a 40% glucose solution, vitamin B1 (thiamine), ascorbic acid. With an increase in blood pressure, it is necessary to stabilize the patient's condition. For this purpose, magnesium sulfate therapy is carried out.
Ethyl alcohol poisoning: home treatment
Help with intoxication can also be provided at home, if the patient's condition does not suffer much. In acute poisoning, it is necessary to replenish the volume of fluid, to detoxify the body. For this purpose, you should drink as much water or oral solutions as possible (the drug "Regidron"). You should also give the patient a few tablets of activated charcoal.
Specialized treatment of ethyl alcohol poisoning
It is necessary to hospitalize the patient if severe ethyl alcohol poisoning is observed. First aidmust be provided immediately. In the hospital, the patient is injected intravenously with saline solutions, glucose, and vitamins. With the development of complications, special treatment in the department of cardiology, neurology or intensive care is necessary.
