Alcohol Intoxication [Examination of a person with alcohol intoxication]

Alcohol Intoxication [Examination of a person with alcohol intoxication] Alcohol intoxication, also referred to as drunkenness, ethanol intoxication, or alcohol poisoning in severe cases, is a temporary condition caused by drinking too much alcohol. The amount of alcohol needed for intoxication varies from person to person. Alcohol intoxication is the direct result of alcohol consumption. The DSM-5 explains that alcohol intoxication is characterized by clinically significant behavioral or psychological changes that occur after drinking alcohol. Common symptoms include slurred speech, poor balance, dizziness, headache and nausea. The most common symptoms of alcohol intoxication are slurred speech, impaired coordination, trouble with balance and walking, involuntary eye movement, impaired attention or memory and loss of consciousness. The signs of alcohol intoxication are in alterations in a person's consciousness, cognition, perception, judgment, affect, or behavior. These can vary between people and depend on the severity of intoxication. Not only the effects of alcohol but also the complications caused by it – such as accidents and violence – are a major threat to a person’s health. Alcohol intoxication can lead to a variety of injuries and dangerous medical conditions. Because alcohol impairs judgment, intoxicated individuals may make unwise or unsafe decisions. Gambling, unsafe sex, and physical confrontation can lead to injury or chronic health problems. Additionally, the poor physical coordination related to alcohol intoxication can make intoxicated individuals more likely to sustain injuries during every-day activities such as cooking, swimming or driving. Clinical Assessment of Intoxication Recognizing the following signs and symptoms can help you assess the patient's level of intoxication: General Physical Examination- Incoordination, Unsteady gait, Nystagmus Writing test Reading test Walking along a straight line Finger - nose test Finger-finger test Picking up a coin from the floor Romberg’s sign/test General Appearance - Shouting, violent, disinhibited, disrobing, drowsy, unable to care for himself, vomiting, misbehaving, threatening, socially inappropriate behavior Motor Activity - Restless Speech - Slurred speech, louder speech than usual Mood - crying, laughing, Thought - talking of big things Cognitive functions - Impairment in attention or memory, Stupor or coma Treatment of Alcohol Intoxication Although the majority of alcohol intoxication is naturally resolved with time, acute alcohol intoxication may require emergency medical care. The clinical goal in treating alcohol intoxication is to stabilize the patient’s clinical condition. Patients are usually treated with intravenous fluid to hydrate the patient and to correct hypoglycemia or electrolyte imbalance. In some cases, medication is used to relieve nausea or vomiting. Special attention is paid to the patient’s respiratory, cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic and gastrointestinal health, as these can be damaged by severe alcohol intoxication Perhaps the most important component of treating acute alcohol intoxication is to determine whether the alcohol intoxication is the result of a single incident or chronic alcohol abuse. This can be done through blood tests, to determine biological markers for alcohol dependence and patient interview. If the alcohol intoxication is the result of a single incident, brief counseling and education is usually sufficient to prevent continued harmful drinking practices. If the intoxication is the result of chronic alcohol abuse or dependence, the patient should be referred to alcohol treatment