Antifreeze

Definition:

Poisoning caused by ingestion of antifreeze.

Poisonous Ingredient:

ethylene glycol
methanol

Where Found:

various antifreezes

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

for ethylene glycol:

body as a whole
respiratory
- rapid breathing
skin
- blue lips and fingernails
gastrointestinal
- nausea and/or vomiting
heart and blood vessels
- rapid heartbeat
- low blood pressure
nervous system
- headache
- stupor
- unconsciousness
- slurred speech
- unsteady gait

for methanol:

body as a whole
- weakness
- leg cramps
- convulsions
respiratory
- rapid, shallow breathing
- stop breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- blurred vision
- blindness
- skin
- blue lips and fingernails
gastrointestinal
- nausea and/or vomiting
heart and blood vessels
- drop in blood pressure
nervous system
- coma
- fatigue
- headache
- dizziness

Home Treatment:

There are no home treatments. Use standard first-aid and CPR for signs of shock or cardiac arrest. Call your local Poison Control Center or 911 for further assistance.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring the poison container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Use gastric lavage.
Give an antidote (ethanol or fomepizole.)
Dialysis
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

For ethylene glycol: Death may occur within the first 24 hours. If patient survives, there may be little or no urine output for several weeks before the kidneys recover. Any brain damage may be permanent.

For methanol: Methanol is extremely toxic. As little as 2 TABLEspoons can be fatal to a child, while 2 to 8 oz. can be fatal for an adult. The ultimate outcome for the patient depends on how much was swallowed and how soon appropriate care was given.

Review Date: 1/11/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.