alcohol intoxication

1. Alcohol
Intoxication:
Signs & Symptoms
Rebecca Bou Kanj

2. Introduction
01
Table of contents
02 Alcohol Metabolism
03 Etiology of Intoxication
04 Signs & Symptoms
05 Relation to the Case

3. Introduction
01

4. • Alcohol poisoning is a serious and
sometimes deadly consequence of
drinking large amounts of alcohol
in a short period of time.
• Drinking too much too quickly can
affect your breathing, heart rate,
body temperature and gag reflex
and potentially lead to a coma and
death.
• Alcohol intoxication is considered
a medical emergency.
Alcohol Poisoning

5. Alcohol
Metabolism
02

6. Alcohol Metabolism

7. Etiology of
Alcohol
Intoxication
03

8. • Regardless of how much a person consumes,
the body can only metabolize a certain amount of
alcohol every hour (0.015g/100mL/hour).
• Body weight, liver size, and genetics (ex: ADH
isoforms) play a role in tolerating alcohol
consumption.
• ~ 90 % alcohol removed by oxidation in liver.
• < 10 % alcohol excreted in breath, sweat and
urine.
Important to Know

9. Factors
affecting
Alcohol
Absorption/
Elimination
Sex
Age
Race and Ethnicity
Food
Concentration of Alcohol Intake

10. Causes of Alcohol Intoxication
Change in NAD+/NADH ratio
Hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis
Acetaldehyde formation
Acetaldehyde Syndrome (flushing, nausea, vomiting…)
Cytokine formation
Liver cirrhosis and neurodegeneration
Oxidative Stress
Neurotoxicity and Cancer

11. Signs &
Symptoms
04

12. Signs & Symptoms
● The signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication
result in alterations in a person's consciousness,
cognition, perception, judgment and behavior.
● Symptoms often are related to the blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) (normal level should be 0) and
are classified as:
1. Mild intoxication: BAC between 0.01-0.1%
2. Moderate Moderate Intoxication: BAC
between 0.15-0.3%
3. Severe Intoxication: BAC between >0.3%

13. Mild Intoxication: BAC (0.01-0.1%)
Slightly fastened
heartbeat
Decreased
attention, memory,
and judgement
Flushing of the face
Unsteady gait Urge to speak
Feelings of
tranquility and
relaxation

14. Moderate Intoxication: BAC (0.15-0.3%)
Mood
variability
Slurred
speech
Greater
deficits in
coordination
Uncontrolled
eye
movements
Confusion
and
Dizziness
Nausea and
vomiting

15. Severe Intoxication: BAC (>0.3%)
Delusions and
hallucinations
Severe
difficulty
speaking
Hypothermia
Seizures or
Chest pain
Coma
Problems
breathing

16. Relation to the
Case
05

18. References
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0277.2006.00084.x
● Cederbaum A. I. (2012). Alcohol metabolism. Clinics in liver disease, 16(4), 667–685.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002
● Eaton, S., Record, C. O., & Bartlett, K. (1997). Multiple biochemical effects in the
pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver. European journal of clinical investigation, 27(9),
719–722. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.1780727.x
● Rubenzer S. (2011). Judging intoxication. Behavioral sciences & the law, 29(1), 116–
137. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.935
● Varela-Rey, M., Woodhoo, A., Martinez-Chantar, M. L., Mato, J. M., & Lu, S. C. (2013).
Alcohol, DNA methylation, and cancer. Alcohol research : current reviews, 35(1), 25–35.