Methanol taste and smell cannot be distinguished fromethanol. This also explains such frequent intoxication. In this article we will examine the symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning, talk about its effects on the body, and also tell about first aid to the victim.
What is the danger?
Метиловый спирт представляет собой угрозу для organism even in small doses. If a person accidentally drank 100 grams of methanol, it can be fatal. If the body is weakened, serious complications can occur with smaller amounts of technical alcohol drunk. What to do if someone from your relatives or friends has signs of methyl alcohol poisoning? Let's talk about this further, but first we will analyze the effect of the surrogate on the human body.
Where is methanol used
Всего лишь полстакана метанола способны paralyze the cardiovascular and nervous system. And the negative impact on the excretory system requires immediate intervention. Methanol is often used as a cheap alternative to the production of surrogate alcohol. In its pure form, it acts as a solvent in technical fluids. In this regard, it is forbidden to use inside. Technical alcohol, in contrast to pure medical, is also one of the components in household chemicals and various detergents. The manufacturer places on the packaging of the goods appropriate warning.
What is the effect on the body?
As we have said, help with poisoningmethyl alcohol must be provided immediately. Otherwise, a person risks his life. It must be remembered that methanol can have a lasting effect on the body. And if at the moment there are no characteristic symptoms, they can appear in a few days. The digestive and excretory systems are primarily affected. Methanol, getting inside the stomach, instantly reacts with gastric juice and forms formaldehyde and formic acid.
Most methanol is excreted by the kidneys, thereforeinstantaneous paralyzed excretory system. When taken in small doses, symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning may not be observed. However, later the nervous system is seriously affected, toxins are released that affect all internal organs, and the work of cells is partially blocked. Needless to say, it is precisely the use of methanol in surrogate alcoholic beverages that is constantly fraught.
What are the symptoms of intoxication?
Let us examine in detail the symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning. The victim needs immediate assistance if:
- He complains of a sharp pain in the abdomen.
- There is dizziness and headache.
- Nausea is accompanied by severe vomiting.
- There is unreasonable aggression.
- The victim partially or completely faints.
- He complains of stars or sparks in his eyes.
- He has a rapid heartbeat, as well as jumps in blood pressure.
If you notice increased salivation -you have acute intoxication. Remember that early symptoms indicate that a person can be saved, but later symptoms will be irreversible.
Понаблюдайте за пострадавшим в течение трех дней, namely, the effect of methanol on the body is preserved. If a person has a visual impairment (including blindness), as well as severe pain in the legs and head, immediate hospitalization is required.
Late symptoms
Late symptoms of intoxication are considered to besuperficial and deep coma. In the first case, a person's speechlessness disappears, he constantly has hiccups, and frequent urge to vomit is noted. As we said, being absorbed into the stomach, methanol affects the excretory system. This is eloquently said the skin of the victim: it becomes wet and cold. Symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning are almost irreversible.
With a deep coma the pupils of the victim are severelyare expanding. At this stage of poisoning, convulsions are observed, pain sensitivity disappears. This suggests that the cells of the body are already affected by toxins. The victim's heartbeat is stable but quickened, and his skin acquires a characteristic marble tint. Excretory system is completely affected. In this case, even high-quality medical care is sometimes impotent.
What you need to know about defeat
So, we looked at the signs of poisoning.methyl alcohol. It is time to work out a clear plan of action. It is necessary to intervene in the processes that are launched by the surrogate in the internal organs. Remember that the absorbents, which are shown in the usual food poisoning, in this case are powerless. Methanol is not in the stomach, under its influence chemical reactions have already occurred in the body, and it has already entered the blood. It is necessary gastric lavage, as well as the introduction of intravenous drugs. At home it is impossible to do. Before the ambulance team arrives, you can do the following.
First aid
To some extent, the victim will save thatIt is a fact if he drank fatty foods with surrogate alcohol. It slows down the chemical reactions produced by methyl alcohol in the body. Next you need to artificially induce vomiting to empty the stomach. Let the victim drink three glasses of warm water, preferably boiled. The liquid should not contain various additives in the form of salt, manganese and others. Then put the victim on a chair, stock up with a basin and a towel.
Even before hospitalization, the ambulance team injects a special antidote drug to the patient in case of methyl alcohol poisoning.
What are the antidotes (antidotes)
Прибывшая бригада скорой помощи вводит intravenous 4-methylpyrazole or 30% ethanol solution. Also, folic acid has a good resistance to methanol. Next, the patient is sent for follow-up treatment and observation in a narcological dispensary, a poison control center or the nearest intensive care unit.
Possible health effects
We covered in detail the topic “Methyl poisoningalcohol. " The consequences of intoxication can occur even after treatment in the clinic. After discharge, the patient may develop heart failure. With more severe lesions in humans, there is partial destruction of muscle tissue, blockage of blood vessels and impaired normal kidney function. After a stay in coma, respiratory failure often develops.
Health workers warn thatmethanol intoxication affects the occurrence of irreversible processes in the body, among which the most common is visual impairment. There are cases when a person after intoxication (even accidental) becomes disabled.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones, appreciate your own health.
