User:Mr. Ibrahem/Methanol toxicity
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Methanol toxicity is poisoning from methanol.[1] Symptoms may include a decreased level of consciousness, poor coordination, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a specific smell on the breath.[1][2] Decreased vision may start as early as twelve hours after exposure.[2] Long-term outcomes may include blindness and kidney failure.[1] Toxicity and death may occur even after drinking a small amount.[1]
Methanol toxicity | |
---|---|
Other names | Methanol poisoning |
Molecular structure of methanol | |
Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Symptoms | Decreased level of consciousness, poor coordination, vomiting, abdominal pain, specific smell on the breath[1][2] |
Complications | Blindness, kidney failure[1] |
Causes | Methanol (such as found in windshield washer fluid)[1][2] |
Diagnostic method | Blood acidosis, increased osmol gap, methanol blood level[1][2] |
Differential diagnosis | Infections, exposure to other toxic alcohols, serotonin syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis[2] |
Treatment | Antidote, hemodialysis[2] |
Medication | Fomepizole, ethanol[2] |
Prognosis | Good with early treatment[1] |
Frequency | 1,700 cases per year (US)[3] |
The poisoning most commonly occurs following the drinking of windshield washer fluid.[2] This may be accidental or done purposefully in an attempt to die by suicide.[1] Toxicity may also rarely occur through extensive skin exposure or breathing in fumes.[1] When methanol is broken down by the body it results in formaldehyde, formic acid, and formate which cause much of the toxicity.[2] The diagnosis may be suspected when there is acidosis or an increased osmol gap and confirmed by directly measuring blood levels.[1][2] Other conditions that can produce similar symptoms include infections, exposure to other toxic alcohols, serotonin syndrome, and diabetic ketoacidosis.[2]
Early treatment increases the chance of a good outcome.[2] Treatment consists of stabilizing the person, followed by the use of an antidote.[2] The preferred antidote is fomepizole, with ethanol used if this is not available.[2] Hemodialysis may also be used in those where there is organ damage or a high degree of acidosis.[2] Other treatments may include sodium bicarbonate, folate, and thiamine.[2]
Outbreaks have occurred due to contamination of drinking alcohol.[2] This is more common in the developing world.[2] In 2013 more than 1700 cases occurred in the United States.[3] Those affected are usually adult and male.[3] Toxicity to methanol has been described as early as 1856.[4]