Alcohol: intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment.

Alcohol intoxication refers to a clinically harmful condition induced by recent ingestion of alcohol, when alcohol and its metabolites accumulate in the blood stream faster than it can be metabolized by the liver. The major adverse effects of alcohol that gain clinical attention are the neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular problems, which are usually related to blood alcohol concentration; however, the extent of acute alcohol intoxication also depends on several factors. Individuals who seek medical treatment for acute alcohol intoxication likely have additional medical problems related to chronic alcohol consumption or alcohol dependence. For this reason, additional investigations to identify potential problems needing particular attention should be considered, depending on the clinical features of the patient.