CASE REPORTS
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Visual blurring and metabolic acidosis after ingestion of bootlegged alcohol.

Extracorporeal treatments have an important role in the management of several types of poisonings and drug overdosage. Methanol poisoning is a major problem in large parts of the developing world, especially among the economically depressed, and is responsible for innumerable deaths annually. Poisoning occurs when methanol, a contaminant of bootlegged alcohol, is consumed unknowingly. Toxicity is related to formaldehyde and formic acid formed as a result of methanol metabolism, and presents as metabolic acidosis, visual impairment, neurological manifestations, and shock. Initial symptoms are nonspecific and masked by the inebriating effect of ethanol. Appropriate management requires immediate administration of ethanol, which competitively inhibits methanol metabolism and prevents the generation of toxic formic acid and hemodialysis to achieve expeditious clearance of methanol and formic acid. Fomepizole, a safer metabolic inhibitor, has largely replaced ethanol in the western world. Delay in seeking medical attention contributes to mortality and morbidity. We report on a patient who presented to us 8 hr after consumption of countrymade alcohol with symptoms of methanol poisoning. Prompt administration of ethanol and institution of hemodialysis resulted in complete reversal of all manifestations.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app