The condition that develops with the use of 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 fun. 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 “go too far” with alcohol, then less pleasant sensations arise. Namely - nausea, dizziness, shakiness when walking, vomiting. Similar manifestations indicate intoxication.
Poisoning with alcohol and its surrogates
Ethanol poisoning often occurs when ingested. Less commonly, intoxication can be caused by rubbing this substance into the skin or inhaling alcohol. 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 and individual 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 slight degree of poisoning. With an increase in concentration, signs of a deterioration in overall health appear. Nausea and vomiting are observed, movements become uncoordinated, speech becomes slurred.
Ethyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a specific odor. It is used in medicine as a disinfectant, and is also a solvent for many drugs. In addition, ethanol is used in the food industry. It is added to various cosmetic, perfumery products. All these funds belong to the group of 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, among which - 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 symptoms develop after some time. Sometimes alcohol intoxication is observed in children. The reason is that parents did not keep track of the baby who took the drink for water or juice and drank it. In addition to poisoning with ethyl alcohol, a person may develop intoxication with the use of alcohol substitutes. 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, antifreeze for refrigeration units, medicinal infusions, etc.
- Inhalation of BF glue containing ethyl alcohol and acetone.
It is worth remembering that substitution poisoning can occur not like alcohol intoxication. In addition, the treatment of these conditions is different. Therefore, before providing assistance, it is worthwhile to find out what exactly the person used.
The mechanism of development of alcohol intoxication
Ethanol poisoning develops as a result of complex biochemical processes that occur in the body. Most of this substance is metabolized by the liver. As you know, this body is responsible for the disposal of toxins. In the liver there is 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 blood, the following changes occur: the phospholipid layer of which the membrane (membrane) consists is destroyed and cell permeability increases. Most of all, this is reflected in the central nervous system. After all, alcohol is neurotoxic. Depending on the concentration and susceptibility of the person to ethanol, CNS activation or inhibition occurs. When the dose of alcohol is 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 this. 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 fuel in some types of vehicles. And yet, how to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol? Indeed, 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 a combustible liquid on fire. In this case, the flame from ethanol will have a blue color, and from methyl alcohol - green. Symptoms of poisoning with these substances are slightly different. 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 close people can answer the question of what exactly caused the intoxication.
Ethanol poisoning: symptoms of pathology
Signs of alcohol intoxication are reminiscent of poisoning with 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 central nervous system excitation (mild intoxication). They are characterized by increased mood, sweating, flushing of the skin. With moderate poisoning, the following symptoms are observed:
- On the part of the nervous system - shakiness when walking, decreased muscle tone, headache. People with arterial hypertension may develop circulatory disorders in the brain. At the same time, symptoms such as loss of sensation in the limbs, paralysis, and visual impairment are noted.
- From the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. Abdominal pain is not always noted.
- On the part of the cardiovascular system - increased heart rate and pulse, increased blood pressure.
Changes are observed in human behavior. Some people become aggressive, others experience depression. A coma develops in a severe degree, 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. Indeed, due to a change in behavior, a person ceases to control his actions. This leads to car accidents, fires, criminal situations. In addition, chronic ethanol poisoning results in severe encephalopathy, which cannot be treated. There is a disorder of memory, thinking, sleep. Pronounced changes in the liver and pancreas also occur. Among them, diseases - fatty hepatosis, cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis.
The consequences of acute intoxication include mental disorders - alcohol delirium (hallucinatory syndrome, impaired behavior), stroke, myocardial infarction, coma.
First aid for ethanol poisoning
Emergency care for poisoning with ethyl alcohol consists in the introduction of a solution of glucose 40%, vitamin B1 (thiamine), ascorbic acid. With an increase in blood pressure, it is necessary to stabilize the patient's condition. To this end, magnesium sulfate therapy is carried out.
Ethanol poisoning: home treatment
Help with intoxication can 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. To this end, you should drink as much water or oral solutions as possible (the drug "Rehydron"). You should also give the patient several tablets of activated carbon.
Specialized treatment for ethyl alcohol poisoning
Hospitalization of the patient is necessary if severe poisoning with ethyl alcohol is observed. First aid should be provided immediately. In the hospital, the patient is injected with saline, glucose, and vitamins. With the development of complications, special treatment is necessary in the department of cardiology, neurology or intensive care.