🔘 Methanol Poisoning

METHANOL POISONING

👉🏻Introduction :-

Methanol is a nondrinking type of alcohol (also known as wood alcohol and

methyl alcohol) which is mostly used to create fuel, solvents and antifreeze. A colorless

liquid, it is volatile, flammable, and unlike ethanol, poisonous for human consumption.

This denatured spirit is used in hospitals & clinics to disinfect skin before surgery &

dressing process or before giving injections. It is also used in varnish, paint removal.

👉🏻Absorption & Metabolism:-

It is rapidly absorbed through the stomach & intestines & also through the lungs

& skin. through its action resembles that of Ethyl alcohol to greater extent, It is

metabolized more slowly & with repeated dose tends to accumulate in the blood.

80mg/100ml of blood is dangerous level. It does not completely disappear from the blood

fro 3 to 4 Days.

👉🏻Action:-

It Causes C.N.S. depression. It is less respiratory depressant than ethyl alcohol.

Its late effects are very dangerous, which includes optic nerve atrophy.

👉🏻Excretion:-

About 80% is excreted unchanged from the lungs & about 3% is excreted

unchaged in the urine.

👉🏻Signs and symptoms :-

💫 In small doses -

- Dizziness (vertigo)

- Headache

- Nausea & Vomitting

- Abdominal pain

💫 In Moderate doses -

- Tachy cardia

- Drowsiness

- Mydriasis (dilation of the pupil

💫 In High doses -

-Metabolic Acidosis

- Convulsions

- Retinal Oedema

- COMA

- Respiratory failure and death

👉🏻Fatal Dose:- 

60 ml to 140 ml.

To produce blindness - 15 ml

👉🏻Fatal Period:-

Usually between 24 - 36 hours.

 However

as in the 4th or 5th Day.

many cases, death occurs as late

👉🏻TREATMENT:-

The patient must be hospitalized & kept under close observation even after

several days of recovery. 

An ophthalic review should be ensured.

A)- According to Ayurved - 

In Ayurveda, use of different Medicinal Madya according

to Dosha is a main treatment.

B)- According to Modern

 - Patient should be admitted in ICU department &

following treatment should be administered.

1. To stop further absorption of methyl alcohol, stomach wash with 5%

bicarbonate solution in warm water should be given & after stomach wash 1/2 litre

solution is left in stomach.

2. To reduce acidosis, administer 2gm of sodabicarb in 250 ml DW slowly. If it

is no possible to give orally then 50 gm of Sodium bicarbonate in 1 litre of 5% dextrose

& 10-15 units of insulin should be administered through intravenous line.

3. Ethyl alcohol is a Specific antidote of Methyl alcohol.

4. Haemodialysis - In severe poisoning of methyl alcohol haemodialysis is a

effective treatment to remove toxic content.

5. Oxygen supply, artificial respiration & other symphomatic treatment should

be prescribed whenever necessary.

👉🏻Autopsy Findings:-

- Cyanosis (Specially in thorax region) is prominently seen.

- The blood is fluid & dark in colour, Coagulation of blood after death is not seen.

- The inflammation of brain & lungs are seen.

- The mucosal membrane of gastrointestinal tract is congested.

- The degenerative changes in liver & kidney are seen.

- Retinal oedema is found.

- The internal organs are preserved in saturated solution of salt.

👉🏻Medico-Legal Importance:-

Accidental Poisoning:-

 The poisoning is mostly accidental. 

-It is mixed in the from of

French polish, varnish, denatured spirit in country liquor to gain some profit.

-This liquor is called as Khopadi in Maharashtra.