Consequences of toxic encephalopathy. Forms and treatment of alcoholic encephalopathy. Features of alcoholic encephalopathy

Shoshina Vera Nikolaevna

Therapist, education: Northern Medical University. Work experience 10 years.

Articles written

Toxic encephalopathy is a severe brain disease that occurs when an organ is damaged by toxic substances. The pathological process may not manifest itself in any way in the early stages and be detected already when no therapeutic methods can help restore nerve tissue.

Features of the pathology

This diagnosis is made if the vessels and cells of the brain are affected by toxic substances, as a result of which a number of neurogenic disorders have arisen. The entry of neurotoxins into the body is possible from the external environment or in violation of the liver, accompanied by the release of ketone bodies.

Poisonous substances impair the nutrition of brain cells and cause their death. In different areas, foci of dead tissues are formed. Diffuse lesions are usually localized in the brainstem, cerebellum, or subcortical nodes.

The pathology is quite common. Many have a chronic course associated with regular poisoning with small portions of poison, which subsequently accumulate and destroy the brain.

Reasons for development

Toxic encephalopathy of the brain manifests itself if a person:

consumes alcoholic beverages in large doses;
regularly takes drugs;
suffers from substance abuse, that is, moderately inhales toxins;
works in production with hazardous components;
stays in an area with poor environmental conditions, where waste from hazardous enterprises accumulates or poisonous substances are emitted into the atmosphere;
incorrectly uses household pesticides;
located in the zone of man-made disasters.

The state of brain cells and tissues can deteriorate under the influence of many substances. Most often, neurons suffer from ethyl and methyl alcohol, petroleum products, carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide, agricultural poisons, heavy metals like mercury and lead, and their salts, manganese, certain types of medicines, waste products of viruses and bacteria, nitrogenous compounds in liver pathologies.

Manganese poisoning is isolated separately. This substance enters the body with some drugs, as well as when working at metallurgical enterprises, ore deposits, during the use of welding machines. If the brain has suffered from manganese, then it suffers from the signs of Parkinson's disease.

Pathology develops not only when toxins enter the body. The destruction of the brain occurs when there is a malfunction in the metabolism, when metabolic products are not introduced. This is an endogenous form that develops in people with diabetes, pathologies of the thyroid gland, liver or kidneys.

Kinds

Intoxication of the brain can occur in acute and chronic form. In the first case, damage occurs when the body is exposed to large doses of poisons once. The nervous system is destroyed very quickly, irreversible changes occur in the organ, so it is important to urgently seek medical help. The rehabilitation process will take a long time.

With the systematic influence of toxins, a chronic form of encephalopathy is isolated. It develops when the body can no longer resist regular poisoning.

stages

Depending on the amount of toxins that have entered the bloodstream, the development of the disease can occur in several stages:

Light. Harmful substances were neutralized even before they interacted with blood cells. In this case, the symptoms are mild.
Average. The diagnosis is made if the poison is in the body for more than an hour and part of it has already been absorbed into the blood. The manifestations are moderate, but with the help of medications they can be completely eliminated.
Heavy. In this case, toxins entered the bloodstream and began to destroy the brain. Stop the death of the cells of the body is possible only with the help of resuscitation. The patient's condition is grave.

It is important to treat at the first signs, preventing further development of the disease.

Symptoms

Depending on the substance that poisons the brain, the disease can manifest itself in different ways. But there are also general symptoms that indicate a violation of the functions of the nervous system. People in this state suffer from:

mental arousal;
disorders of mental reactions in the form of aggression, anxiety, fear, euphoria;
failures in coordination of movements;
epileptic seizures or seizures;
muscle tone disorders, as in Parkinson's disease;
hypothalamic syndrome, manifested by vegetative-vascular, mental, thermoregulatory, neuroendocrine and neurotrophic disorders.

First, there is a stage of excitation, which is replaced by a sharp depression of the nervous system. At the same time, the patient's reflexes decrease, consciousness and mobility are disturbed, drowsiness is observed and a coma develops.

Gradually, damage can spread to the spinal cord. In this case, sensitivity is partially disturbed, the work of the pelvic organs is upset.

Manifestations depend on the location of the lesions. Based on this, there are different types of encephalopathy.

Alcoholic

Toxic-dysmetabolic encephalopathy most often manifests itself in the form. This is the most common brain lesion, which is isolated as an independent disease.

Usually, the pathology develops in a chronic form as a result of the regular use of ethyl or methyl alcohol. The first manifestations of the disease are observed after three years of daily intake of alcoholic beverages or periodic prolonged binges.

As a result of the use of alcohol, there is a destruction of neurons and nerve connections between them. Such damage is irreversible.

Regular alcohol consumption provokes the appearance of multiple small-focal hemorrhages and ruptures of small vessels. This causes degradation of brain structures. The situation is worsened by the fact that most patients do not recognize their problem and do not stop supplying alcohol to the body.

Alcohol surrogates are the most dangerous. They lead to acute poisoning of the body. The pathological condition in alcoholic encephalopathy proceeds in the form of Gaye-Wernicke syndrome, alcoholic pseudo-paralysis, Korsakov's psychosis, an acute imitated form.

In general, with such lesions, the patient suffers from:

decreased performance, lethargy and fatigue;
malfunctions of the digestive system, accompanied by heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
dizziness and sleep disturbances;
peeling or greasiness, discoloration of the skin to earthy;
increase in body temperature and increased sweating;
speech disorders, orientation in space, memory loss;
loss of ability to move independently;
epileptic seizures.

If a person suffering from alcoholism develops encephalopathy, his hands and lips tremble, coordination is disturbed, hallucinations and excessive aggressiveness are disturbing.

manganese

Under the influence of manganese, the state of the subcortical centers of the brain worsens. As a result of intoxication:

the patient becomes lethargic and drowsy;
muscle tone decreases;
dull pains appear in the upper and lower extremities;
intellectual abilities and emotional background decrease.

Severe cases are accompanied by an expansion of the slit of the eyes, a grimace of a smile, unnatural laughter or crying, trembling of the tongue.

Mercury

If the body has been exposed to mercury poisoning, then this condition can be determined by the presence of:

pain in the abdomen, if the poison got into the mouth, and in the chest;
blue borders on the surface of the gums;
severe sweating and weakness;
frequent contractions of the heart;
insomnia.

There is also a symptom called mercury tremor, in which the limbs tremble. Poisoning is manifested by a contradictory mental state. If there is an emotional rise and excitement, it is difficult to make even simple decisions.

lead poisoning

Most often, intoxication occurs if a person inhales lead dust. In rare cases, the substance enters through the oral cavity. Wherein:

a metallic taste is felt in the mouth;
severe stomach pain;
gums become purple;
concerned about nausea with vomiting;
a large amount of saliva is secreted.

If the poisoning is severe, then the peripheral nervous system is affected.

Gasoline poisoning

Gasoline intoxication leads to organic brain damage. At the same time, excitability increases in a person, and seizures appear. There are also symptoms such as:

failures in psychomotor development;
kidney liver pathologies;
sleep disturbances manifested by nightmares;
muscle weakness.

The same signs can appear if a person is poisoned by a stain remover.

Arsenic

Under the influence of this substance, damage to the brain and spinal cord occurs, due to which:

the patient has a severe headache;
skin flakes and hair falls out;
there is weakness in the limbs;
nails are covered with white stripes.

Drug poisoning

Toxic encephalopathy is a disease that can be caused by certain drugs when taken in high doses. Brain tissues and cells can be damaged during overuse:

sleeping pills;
barbiturates;
narcotic painkillers;
glucocorticoids;
Indomethacin;
salicylates and bromides.

As a result of poisoning, the vomiting center in the brain is excited, therefore vomiting, headache begin, and changes in the psychological state are also observed in the form of irritability and lethargy.

Sometimes speech, visual and respiratory functions are disturbed.

Endogenous intoxications

Toxic-metabolic encephalopathy develops with disturbances within the body that occur with congenital and acquired pathologies. In this case, it is important to determine what kind of disease caused the violation in order to find an effective method to fix the problem.

Diagnostic methods

The pathological process in the brain is detected using:

blood and urine tests;
examination by a neurosurgeon;

After determining the type of toxin and the degree of damage, treatment is selected. Some difficulties may arise during the diagnostic process. This is due to the fact that if the patient suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction, he does not admit his problem, and it will take longer to determine the toxin.

Therapy

Treatment of toxic encephalopathy consists of a set of measures. If the patient's condition is severe, then first carry out procedures to stabilize his condition. An important role in this process is played by the correctness of the diagnosis. The use of modern biochemical studies will help to quickly and reliably determine the type of poison.

The whole troubleshooting process consists of several steps:

First of all, toxic substances are removed from the body. Taking into account what kind of poison got into the blood, saline solutions and glucose are poured into the vein, and antidotes are injected. Purification of the body is also achieved with the help of forced diuresis, cleansing enemas, gastric lavages. If there are indications for this, then hemodialysis and plasmapheresis may be recommended. Thanks to these procedures, the effect of the poison on the body is eliminated; in the future, it is important to avoid any contact with this substance.
Eliminate the symptoms of poisoning. If the patient suffers from seizures or increased excitability, then tranquilizers and sedatives are used to alleviate his condition.
Improve blood flow through the vessels of the brain. For this, like Cavinton, Piracetam, Cerebrolysin, Cinnarizine. They can also pick up funds based on medicinal plants, vitamin complexes.
Acceleration of the recovery process is achieved with the use of physiotherapy sessions, massages of the head and collar zone, acupuncture, water procedures and mud baths.
If the work of the liver is disrupted, funds are selected to restore the functions of the organ, normalize metabolic processes in the body.

If a person suffers from addiction to alcoholic beverages or drugs, a narcologist conducts a conversation with him. In some cases, patients should adhere to a proper diet.

Often there is a need for psychotherapeutic treatment.

What causes pathology

Toxic encephalopathy of the brain can have the most unpleasant consequences, up to disability or death of the patient. As a result of poisoning of brain cells:

the intellectual abilities of the patient are reduced;
disturbed by hallucinations and emotional disorders;
schizophrenia develops;
there is an acute violation of blood flow in the vessels of the brain;
a coma appears;
the patient dies.

Under the influence of toxic substances, the peripheral nervous system cannot perform its functions, trophic disorders develop, the patient suffers from epileptic seizures.

Acute toxic encephalopathy, if timely assistance is not provided, ends with the death of the patient.

At advanced stages, it is impossible to restore the functioning of the brain and eliminate all damage. Therefore, how successful the prescribed therapy will be depends on the timeliness of the diagnosis and the stage at which treatment was started.

Toxic encephalopathy is considered one of the most dangerous diseases. The destructive effect of toxic substances on the cells of the body leads to their death and irreversible impairment of brain functions. It is important to consult a doctor in time at the first manifestations of pathology. Usually, the development of the disease is evidenced by the development of mental disorders, seizures, irritability disorders, increased or decreased sensitivity, vegetative-vascular dystonia.

At advanced stages of the disease, it is impossible to restore damaged nervous tissue. Therefore, often the consequences of encephalopathy are very deplorable. Only a correct diagnosis and timely treatment will give the patient a chance for recovery.

Alcoholic toxic encephalopathy (ICD-10 code G31.2) is a serious type of brain damage of organic origin of a non-inflammatory nature, expressed in severe alcoholic psychosis. It is associated with a malfunction of brain cells. This condition is usually understood as a combination of several diseases with a similar clinical picture and causes. Toxic damage to the brain manifests itself in conjunction with somatic and neurological symptoms. Almost all patients with this kind of lesion have pathologies of internal organs caused by excessive alcohol consumption, intoxication of the body, and exhaustion. However, the main place in the picture of the disease is occupied by mental disorders in the form of degenerative personality changes.

Although this condition manifests itself in the third stage of alcoholism, the moment of its occurrence is rather arbitrary. It can take from 5-6 to 20 or more years from the start of alcohol abuse before encephalopathy manifests itself. Early prediction is not possible.

Gradually, irreversible processes occur - the nervous tissue is replaced by fluid, capillary ruptures and minor, but frequent hemorrhages in the brain occur. As a result, the appearance and development of degenerative changes.

Usually, the onset of encephalopathy is preceded by a clouding of consciousness in the form of delirium, known as delirium tremens.

Causes of the disease

Pathology is formed as a result of chronic intoxication with alcohol, especially low-quality drinks and a surrogate. These patients have a history of repeated hospitalization due to alcohol intoxication.

However, chronic alcoholism does not directly affect the development of the disease. The constant intake of doses of alcohol disrupts the correct course of the metabolic process, provokes an imbalance of minerals and vitamins, primarily group B (B1 and B6). Aldehydes - the breakdown products of alcohol - affect nerve cells. Those, in turn, are insufficiently supplied with oxygen and nutrients. And intoxication of the brain, disruption of the nervous system is manifested in mental disorders.

Symptoms of toxic encephalopathy at different stages

Toxic encephalopathy in alcoholism is characterized by a prodromal period: patients tend to be addicted to salty or sweet foods, and sometimes a complete refusal of food against the background of abdominal pain, nausea and other digestive disorders.

The onset of the disease is accompanied by various sleep disorders: inability to fall asleep and early awakenings, drowsiness during the day, nightmares.

With the development of painful symptoms, motor excitations of various types appear.

In addition, the following manifestations are characteristic:

fatigue;
swelling of the upper body and face;
skin color is unhealthy, earthy, greasiness of the skin of the face, in other areas - peeling, flabbiness, bedsores;
disturbed heart rhythm, pain in the heart with a feeling of tightness in the chest and shortness of breath;
weakness, decreased muscle tone, possible mild paresis; convulsions, trembling of the face: lips, tongue. Decreased physical activity in general;
significant jumps in body temperature;
sweating;
pain in the limbs in the form of aches and numbness;
blurred vision, retinal hemorrhage;
speech disorders;
anxiety;
dizziness, disorientation, impaired consciousness;
in some cases, epileptic seizures.

With the rapid development of the disease without treatment, an acute stage occurs - the Gaye-Wernicke syndrome. The presence of delirious hallucinations is characteristic, the excitement is accompanied by incoherent chatter and meaningless cries. After the acute period, a state of increased risk comes: neurological and somatic disorders are pronounced.

Clinical picture

Alcoholic toxic encephalopathy and its clinical picture entirely depend on the form and period of the course.

In acute periods, patients experience delirious experiences, in rare cases - schizophrenia-like states, at the beginning of the manifestation of psychosis, hallucinations are fragmentary, primitive, static. Extinct unconditioned reflexes are disinhibited.

The mitigated form does not differ in pronounced symptoms of delirium; the patient's hypochondriacal moods are more characteristic.

Especially dangerous is the "hyperacute" form of the disease. Pronounced symptoms progress quickly, within a few days. The debut of the disease passes instantly, after the patient falls into a coma. The most common outcome of the disease in this case is death in 3-5 days.

Forms of chronic toxic encephalopathy

There is only one acute form of the disease - Gaye-Wernicke syndrome. And the chronic form has two types of condition: Korsakov's (polyneuritic) psychosis and alcoholic pseudo-paralysis.

The first option is most common in women, it is characterized by false memories - confabulation, inability to orient in space, memory disorders in the form of fixative amnesia (inability to remember current events) and retrograde amnesia (loss of memory for old events), neurological disorders.

The second variant is diagnosed more often in males of mature age. The mental state is also characterized by memory disorders, manic and delusional disorders are noted, and neurological symptoms are strongly pronounced.

Consequences of alcoholic encephalopathy

The prognosis of the outcome of the disease depends on several factors:

the severity and extent of damage to nerve cells;
timeliness of treatment;
prevention of the onset of the acute phase;
stopping alcohol consumption;
the type of alcohol consumed by the patient;
the rate of the course of the disease;
extent of personal injury.

Without proper treatment, the patient's condition will continue to worsen, the consequences are multiple and severe:

diseases of the cardiovascular system, among them arterial hypertension stands out;
disorders of the digestive system;
violations of visual and oculomotor functions;
movement and coordination disorders;
epileptic seizures;
states of blackout of consciousness in the form of absences;
weakening of cognitive functions: lack of concentration, severe memory impairment;
brain tumors;
schizophrenia-like disorders of organic origin;
decrease in intellectual functions, dementia (dementia);
involuntary urination (enuresis) and bowel movements (encopresis);
decreased sensitivity or its complete loss in the arms and legs, paralysis and paresis;
sexual dysfunction;
diabetes insipidus as a consequence of damage to the hypothalamus.

Encephalopathy of toxic origin is also expressed in a special group of consequences of irreversible personality changes, its degradation. This is expressed not so much in reduced intelligence, but in the narrowing and primitivization of interests, dipsomania (craving for hard drinking), bouts of malicious longing and irritability, and aggressive attacks.

A favorable option is that medical care was provided to the patient on time. In this case, a stable serious condition is achieved: the physiological functioning of the body is preserved, although not in full. As a full-fledged member of society, the patient is no longer considered, he needs constant care and control of behavior.

Other, more negative scenarios are also possible:

Coma: most often this is a consequence of the hyperacute course of the disease. The body is not able to filter out toxins and deal with them on its own. In the vast majority of cases, the patient is in a state of clinical death.
Fatal outcome: as a result of the progression of the disease without proper treatment or occurs suddenly in the acute or hyperacute phase.

Principles of therapy

Alcoholic toxic encephalopathy is treatable and outcomes will be much better if medical attention is sought as soon as possible. Consoling forecasts are also made in the case of the patient's good health and a short period of alcohol abuse. Treatment of acute toxic encephalopathy should occur only within the hospital. It is rather complicated and has a complex character. The treatment strategy is similar to the treatment regimen for acute alcoholic deliriums. Etiological, pathogenetic methods of influence and symptomatic therapy are combined.

first of all, they relieve the body of intoxication: they “wash” the body with a saline solution from alcohol and its decomposition products;
further vitamins of group B are prescribed. Thiamine (B1) normalizes metabolism, optimizes the production of gastric juice, puts in order the work of the intestinal muscles. It also helps in relieving symptoms of disruption of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. B9 and B12 help in increasing the level of hemoglobin, are involved in strengthening the immune system, speed up the metabolism;
it is important to use drugs to improve the blood circulation of the brain and eliminate cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders;
stimulation of the central nervous system;
if necessary, antiepileptic drugs are prescribed;
with increased excitability of the patient, tranquilizers are additionally prescribed;
depending on the severity of the symptoms and pain syndrome, the treatment is supplemented with medications that relieve this or that disorder: painkillers, sleeping pills, drugs to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and others;
this therapy is supplemented by taking nootropic drugs;
the right diet helps the body to come to an optimal state;
daily walks in the air are also recommended.

The success of therapy is also affected by the elimination of the root cause of the development of alcoholism and, as a result, alcoholic encephalopathy. In this case, psychotherapeutic support in the form of individual consultations and group meetings becomes indispensable. An excellent method of influencing the psychological component of the disease will be hypnotherapy.

A good effect for fixing the results of treatment is given by conditioned reflex therapy. With its help, the patient produces an emetic reaction to the smell and taste of alcohol.

Important! The success of any treatment will be nullified if you continue to drink alcohol.

Due to reduced adequacy, patients themselves cannot seek medical help; usually relatives or other close people do it for them.

Thus, toxic encephalopathy of the brain is the end result of alcohol addiction. In addition to somatic disorders and neurological disorders, the patient loses mental health and degrades socially. This disease is incurable, the only true way out is the treatment of alcohol dependence in the early stages.

Brain intoxication is diagnosed together with general poisoning of the body. This phenomenon can cause a lot of difficulties for the patient. In the absence of the necessary assistance, intoxication ends in death. What causes brain poisoning, how does the condition manifest itself, how to help a person?

How can you get poisoned

Constant poisoning with toxic substances in adults and children leads to damage to brain tissue. In medicine, such intoxication is called toxic encephalopathy. With the development of poisoning in the brain, various processes occur that affect the entire body.

Processes:

Accumulation of toxic substances in the body
Harmful substances enter the bloodstream and reach the brain in the head,
Damage to the vessels and nerve cells of the organ is noted, disorders of the nervous system are diagnosed in a person,
Gradually, neurons die due to poor nutrition, areas of dead tissue appear in the brain.

Similar processes are often diagnosed in the cerebellum, brain stem, subcortical nodes. Why does brain poisoning occur? Allocate internal and external causes that provoke the development of intoxication.

External reasons:

Emission of toxic substances into the atmosphere,
Failure to comply with safety regulations when working with chemicals in everyday life,
unfavorable environmental conditions,
Working with chemicals in production
Inhalation of toxic substances specifically for the purpose of achieving a state of euphoria,
taking drugs,
carbon monoxide poisoning,
Constant drinking of alcoholic beverages.

Alcoholic beverages, petroleum products, hydrogen sulfide, salts of heavy metals, toxins secreted by viruses and bacteria, and drugs are considered hazardous to human health.

Internal reasons:

Heart disease, leading to impaired oxygen supply to the brain,
Diabetes,
Diseases of the thyroid gland and endocrine system,
Pathological processes in the kidneys and liver.

Such causes rarely provoke the development of brain intoxication, but they are no less dangerous for humans.

Causes and symptoms of brain poisoning

Depending on how the pathological process develops in the brain, there are three stages.

Stages:

Initial. The easiest, has a favorable prognosis, with proper treatment passes quickly enough.
Average. Toxic poisoning of the brain requires careful attention, treatment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor in compliance with all prescriptions.
Heavy. The stage often leads to disability and death.

Treatment must be carried out in any case and treated with responsibility. Signs of intoxication vary depending on the poisonous substance, but there are common symptoms.

Signs:

mental stimulation,
Various deviations in the functionality of the nervous system,
convulsive manifestations,
Problems with coordination
muscle trembling,
The stage of excitation is gradually replaced by inhibition of reflexes,
The development of drowsiness
Loss of mobility
Loss of consciousness, falling into a coma.

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Crystal Eyes is the best remedy for restoring vision at any age.

In the absence of assistance, the patient's condition worsens, a fatal outcome is possible.

Brain poisoning after alcohol

Intoxication after drinking alcohol is diagnosed most often. In the International Classification of Diseases, alcohol intoxication of the brain is noted as an independent disease. It develops with the constant use of ethyl alcohol. There are several forms of manifestation of alcohol intoxication.

Forms:

Acute mitigated form,
Korsakov's psychosis
pseudoparalysis,
Gaye-Wernicke syndrome.

All forms of alcohol poisoning of the brain are characterized by the presence of certain signs.

Video: how alcohol affects the brain (tin)

Symptoms:

Malfunction of the digestive system,
Sleep problems, insomnia,
head spinning,
Poor condition of the skin on the face, peeling,
Memory problems, impaired speech function,
Reinforced sweat compartment
Weight loss for no reason
Increase in body temperature
manifestations of epilepsy,
Hallucinations, delusions,
Trembling of the limbs, problems with coordination.

Gaye-Wernicke syndrome is the most severe form of alcohol intoxication. The lethal outcome develops two weeks after the first signs of brain diseases appear.

How to restore the brain after alcohol intoxication? The intervention of medical workers, the rejection of a bad habit and the observance of preventive measures will help.

Other types of brain poisoning

Brain poisoning is caused not only by alcohol, but also by other toxic substances. Each intoxication is characterized by the presence of special signs.

	signs
	desire to sleep Decreased tone of muscle fibers Pain in the limbs Problems with intellectual abilities Emotional disorder, Unnatural behavior.
Mercury	Border on the gums of a blue tint, Increased perspiration Painful sensations in the abdomen Frequent heartbeat Sleep disturbance, Trembling of limbs.
Nicotine	bowel disorder, Vomiting reflex, head spinning, The occurrence of seizures hand shaking, Decreased temperature of the extremities.
Lead	Increased flow of saliva purple gums, urge to vomit, Soreness in the stomach Taste of metal in the mouth.
Medications	Pain in the head Nausea, vomiting. Violation of the nervous system and psyche, violation of the respiratory process, Problems with visual functions.

First aid and treatment of intoxication

What to do with intoxication of the brain? How to restore the brain? If signs of poisoning are found, a team of medical workers is invited. The acute form of an overdose requires first aid.

What to do:

Wash the stomach with a weak saline or soda solution,
After the procedure, the patient is allowed to take sorbents,
Avoid dehydration during intoxication will help the use of the drug Regidron,
Prior to the arrival of doctors, they carefully monitor the patient's condition, talk with him.

Further treatment after first aid is carried out under the supervision of a specialist in a medical institution.

How to restore the brain? Therapy is carried out after a thorough diagnosis. According to the results of the tests, medicines and the necessary procedures are prescribed.

Therapy:

The introduction of specific solutions intravenously to restore the functionality of systems and organs,
Use of cleansing enemas
Cleansing the stomach with a probe,
Administration of antidotes
Transfusion of blood or plasma
Medications are prescribed that normalize the condition of the patient in general and the brain in particular.

Be sure in the process of recovery, the victim is required to take vitamin complexes. If necessary, it is permissible to carry out some physiotherapy. Particular attention is paid to nutrition.

Consequences and prevention

Complications and consequences of intoxication are quite serious. In the absence of timely assistance, poisoning can lead to the appearance of a heart attack, stroke, oncology, various stages of cerebral edema, and the development of pathological processes in the nervous system. Quite often, a lethal outcome is diagnosed with such intoxications.

Prevention is the careful use of drugs, the rejection of bad habits, maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Brain intoxication is a danger to the human body. When the first signs of poisoning appear, you need to quickly contact a medical institution in order to avoid negative consequences.

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We live in a world where various diseases lie in wait for us at every turn. What can cause their development, sometimes remains a mystery. The disease encephalopathy just refers to those diseases that can overtake any person, and even at any time.

If a person begins to develop this disease, it means that dystrophic lesions of the brain tissue occur.

Varieties of encephalopathy

This disease has several varieties, which can be divided into two large groups:

Traumatic. It is easy to get as a result of injury, fracture.
Toxic encephalopathy. It can occur after exposure to the brain of various toxins.
Beam. Develops as a result of exposure to radiation.
Toxic-infectious occurs as a result of damage to the brain by toxins in infectious diseases.
metabolic encephalopathy. Associated with metabolic disorders in certain diseases, such as diabetes.
Vascular occurs in chronic circulatory disorders.

As you can see from this list, getting yourself such a disease is not difficult.

Toxic encephalopathy

This disease is considered quite serious and severe. Any toxic substance that affects the human body can provoke its development. Considering that at present the state of our ecology leaves much to be desired, and the impact of certain factors on hazardous industries also affects, we can draw an appropriate conclusion about the risk of getting such a disease.

A distinctive feature of this type of encephalopathy is that a small impact of a harmful factor is enough to start the development of the disease, and we can assume that the mechanism is running. Subsequently, even if the influence of the toxin is eliminated, this will not fix anything.

The complexity and danger also lies in the fact that at first, when the disease is just beginning to develop, a person may not experience any symptoms. A certain fatigue, headache is in no way associated with developing encephalopathy.

Causes of toxic encephalopathy

The following substances can have a toxic effect on the brain:

How severe toxic encephalopathy will be depends on several factors:

A type of poisonous substance.
dose of exposure.
duration.
How did the toxin enter the body?
General condition of the body.

The poison that enters the body affects the vessels and tissues of the brain, followed by their death in the most serious cases.

Types of encephalopathy

Depending on the time of exposure and dose of a toxic substance, there are:

Acute toxic encephalopathy. Occurs after a single exposure to a toxic substance in a large dose. Urgent help and rehabilitation is needed.
Chronic form. Develops with prolonged exposure to toxic substances. The patient needs a long course of treatment.

Depending on how much of the poisonous substance and for how long it affected a person, there are degrees of encephalopathy:

Light. There are minor manifestations, and the symptoms are not pronounced.
Average. There are clear signs of poisoning with toxic substances.
Severe degree. It is manifested by serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Symptoms of encephalopathy

At the initial stage of exposure to a poisonous substance on the body, general manifestations characteristic of poisoning are observed. Most often it is:

Fluctuations in heart rate and jumps in blood pressure.
Sleep disturbance.
Increased sweating.
Nervous excitability.

If at this stage the influence of the toxic substance is not eliminated, then the signs of encephalopathy are already becoming more serious:

Severe headaches.
Problems in the endocrine system.
Change in muscle tone.
hallucinations.
Sleep disturbance.
Loss of reflexes.

At this time, irreversible changes begin in the brain. If urgent action is not taken, this will end badly.

It should be noted that the manifestations may differ slightly depending on the specifics of the toxic substance.

Diagnosis of toxic encephalopathy

It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis of encephalopathy without appropriate laboratory and clinical studies. The general complaints of the patient, which begin to appear in the early stages of the disease, are very similar to the symptoms of many diseases.

If you turn to an experienced neurologist, then the following facts should definitely alert him:

Involuntary deviation of the tongue.
Reflexes are impaired or completely absent.
Asymmetry of innervation of the face.

These symptoms may give the doctor every reason to suspect that the patient has brain abnormalities caused by poisoning.

The complexity of making a diagnosis may also lie in the fact that some categories of patients, for example, alcoholics, drug addicts, simply do not admit to a doctor that they have taken poisonous substances.

In rare cases, it happens that the employer at the enterprise, in order to save money, does not comply with all safety rules, and employees, unaware of this, regularly receive a dose of a poisonous substance.

At the slightest suspicion of encephalopathy, the doctor will send the patient to the following procedures:

After all examinations, the patient is prescribed appropriate treatment.

Treatment of toxic encephalopathy

If toxic encephalopathy is diagnosed, then the patient is sent to the hospital for full treatment.

At the first stage, it is mandatory to carry out a complete detoxification of the body. The following procedures are prescribed:

Cleansing enema.
Plasmapheresis.
Hemodialysis.

All drugs are prescribed taking into account the toxic substance. After the body is cleansed of toxins, you can start taking drugs to improve blood circulation in the brain.

Usually, the treatment of toxic encephalopathy is reduced to the appointment of tranquilizers, sedatives, anticonvulsants. Most often prescribed:

Means "Cavinton".
The drug "Piracetam".
Medicine "Nootropil".
Means "Cerebrolysin".
The drug "Mezapam".
Medicine "Mydocalm".

In the form of injections, vitamins of groups B, P and C can be prescribed.

After the patient's condition stabilizes, the treatment is supplemented by physiotherapy procedures:

This is the kind of serious approach that encephalopathy requires. Treatment is usually long and difficult.

Consequences of encephalopathy

The consequences are unpredictable, to which this disease can lead. Treatment can only give temporary relief to the patient's condition, and further recovery depends entirely on the severity of damage to the brain structures.

If the patient has been exposed to toxic substances for a long time, then irreversible changes in the brain may well occur, which can no longer be completely corrected.

Even with short-term toxic effects, certain consequences can be expected, these include:

Weakening of memory.
Permanent depression.
Sleep disturbance.
Paresis of the muscles of the face.
Speech disorders.

This is only a small part of the consequences that toxic encephalopathy can leave behind. Treatment after a disease is necessary throughout life periodically to slow down the degenerative processes in the brain and restore some of the lost functions.

The impact of encephalopathy on performance

If a patient is given a similar diagnosis, then this can significantly affect his future work activity. Toxic encephalopathy is a serious disease that leaves consequences for the rest of your life. Severe brain damage leads to death or complete disability.

With a mild degree of the disease, the patient may remain fully able-bodied, but further activities must be carefully adjusted.

There are some contraindications for employment:

Complete refusal to work in hazardous industries.
Any nervous strain is contraindicated.
Exposure to high temperatures.
Night shift work is undesirable.
You can not work in noisy workshops.

Brain intoxication is a frequent phenomenon, it usually accompanies general poisoning of the body and can become a severe complication of the underlying disease. The condition is characterized by personality changes, neurological syndromes, and impaired vital functions: breathing, heartbeat. Without proper medical care, it ends in death.

What happens to the brain during intoxication

During an active pathological process, a serious disease is formed - encephalopathy. It is a generalized concept that includes non-inflammatory lesions of the nervous tissue, accompanied by functional disorders. Each poison acts in its own way, one substance poisons a person more slowly, and the other many times faster. The main characteristic that unites all chemicals is the free passage through the natural protective barrier of the brain.

Alcohol intoxication

The most sensitive area is the cerebellum - a place responsible for coordinating movements and moving the body in space. It is for this reason that a person who consumes alcoholic beverages feels some staggering.

In addition, depending on the amount drunk, it turns off one or more brain centers. If intoxication begins to resemble severe intoxication, cell necrosis develops, which is fraught with complications in the form of impaired consciousness, mental changes, and respiratory depression.

Additionally, chronic poisoning or alcoholism is highlighted. The clinical picture is formed slowly, but ends with very serious negative consequences:

psychoses;
polyneuritis;
acute violation of cerebral blood supply - stroke;
memory loss;
delirium.

A person degrades, and if in the early stages the process depended on him as a person, then over time the pathological cascade becomes irreversible.

It is generally accepted that smoking mostly affects the state of the cardiovascular system, tooth enamel, causes cancer of the lungs and other organs, but does not affect the brain. Such statements are erroneous, since the nervous tissue is considered the most sensitive and reacts to all changes in the body first.

During the absorption of nicotine, a certain complex of biologically active substances is produced - neurotransmitters responsible for the excitation and transmission of impulses through the fibers. It is at this moment that it seems to the smoker that the cigarette helps to concentrate and “sort out thoughts on the shelves”.

A similar effect does not last long, the state of health worsens, there are complaints about:

headaches;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
decreased attention;
irritability up to rage and anger.

The clinical picture is explained by cell hypoxia against the background of narrowing of the arteries, a decrease in the delivery of nutrients and oxygen.

Toxic poisoning

Intoxication is due to the inhalation of vapors or the use of all kinds of chemicals, this also includes medicines.

The pathogenesis is quite simple, heavy metals, ethers, carbon monoxide and other substances bind to blood proteins, enter the brain and disrupt metabolic processes, causing tissue necrosis.

In workers employed in industry, the disorder becomes chronic and belongs to the group of occupational diseases. If toxic encephalopathy is detected, the patient is prohibited from engaging in such activities further. In the rest of the contingent, the pathology is acute and, without proper qualified assistance, often ends in death.

Clinical picture

The disease develops in stages. In medical practice, there are three degrees of development:

First. Includes non-specific signs of a nervous system disorder that people regard as a result of overload: fatigue, fatigue, weakness in the limbs, headaches, hand tremors, excessive sweating of the skin.
Second. The clinic becomes more pronounced, the symptoms are complemented by mental lability, a decrease in the functional activity of the sense organs. Patients complain of poor short-term memory and periodic disturbances of consciousness.
Third. The condition requires emergency qualified assistance, as the victim's heartbeat changes, breathing is depressed, the person falls into a coma.

In addition, mental disorders are possible in the form of hallucinations, delusions, depression, manic states, which close people cannot fail to notice.

Stages of alcohol poisoning

It is divided into three levels of development: light, medium and heavy. The first is characterized by the excitation of the brain, but some decrease in mental activity. The condition does not pose any danger, ends after a few hours with a hangover.

The second degree of alcohol intoxication includes symptoms such as:

euphoria, accompanied by excessive sociability;
incoherent speech;
blurred consciousness;
impaired coordination of movements;
noise in ears;
increased drowsiness;
decrease in visual acuity.

There is an increase in heart rate, hypertension, muscle weakness. In the morning, a person remembers what is happening the day before in fragments or does not forget the past evening at all.

In severe cases, the formation of an alcoholic coma is possible, that is, the victim does not respond to exogenous stimuli, does not answer questions. The skin becomes bluish due to respiratory depression and cell hypoxia.

Signs of nicotine poisoning

It has a slightly different course and, unlike alcohol intoxication, does not end with a complete violation of human consciousness. The symptoms are as follows:

dizziness;
nausea;
vomiting that does not bring relief;
lowering the temperature of the extremities;
shallow breathing;
convulsive syndrome;
stool disorder (diarrhea);
hand tremor.

For chronic poisoning of the brain, confusion of speech, twilight consciousness, and neurosis-like states are characteristic.

Intoxication with poisons, chemicals, drugs

Signs can vary depending on the route of penetration of the substance. Volatile compounds are considered the most dangerous, as they enter the respiratory tract and the general bloodstream at a high speed.

manganese encephalopathy

The element of the periodic table is essential for the body to maintain water and electrolyte balance, transport of substances and the implementation of biochemical processes, however, it is practically absent in the brain.

The disease is more common in drug addicts who use mixtures with manganese. Pathology develops slowly, leads to the degradation of the personality against the background of necrosis of the nervous tissue and deterioration in the transmission of impulses. The clinical picture includes:

decreased activity of skeletal muscles;
change in gait;
muscle rigidity;
speech disorder.

Everything ends with disability, and then the death of the patient. He is unable to serve himself and move normally in space, which leads to bedsores and the addition of pathogenic microflora. Formed infectious-toxic encephalopathy.

Mercury damage to the brain

It implies the appearance of neuropsychiatric disorders against the background of the constant intake of pesticides into the bloodstream, and then into the organs of the central nervous system. It occurs quite often, the symptoms of the disease are as follows:

excessive emotional arousal;
change in coordination of movements;
anxiety;
aggressiveness;
depressive state;
convulsive syndrome;
hallucinations, delusions;
inhibition of reflexes;
impaired consciousness up to coma.

People involved in industrial production and ignoring the rules of personal protection against metal exposure fall into the risk zone.

Encephalopathy due to lead poisoning

The disease is otherwise called saturnism. It appears most often when inhaling dust or entering a chemical element through the mouth, for example, with food. Symptoms of intoxication pathology of the brain include:

pain localized in the back of the head;
weakness;
increased fatigue with previous physical and mental stress;
sleep disturbance;
decrease or lack of appetite;
emotional lability;
excessive sweating of the skin;
bradycardia;
arterial hypotension.

Lead poisoning can also cause nausea, vomiting, increased saliva secretion, and a purple discoloration of the mouth and gums.

Encephalopathy due to gasoline intoxication

Pathology develops extremely slowly, in addition to changes in the structure of the brain, doctors also detect cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure and other diseases in the stage of decompensation. The symptoms of poisoning are as follows:

inhibited reaction to external stimuli;
convulsions;
change in sleep patterns;
muscle weakness.

Specific syndromes are not observed, it is detected only during the collection of a complete anamnesis of life, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics.

Encephalopathy due to arsenic intoxication

The chemical compound mainly accumulates in the white matter of the spinal cord. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as:

increased peeling of the epidermis;
hair loss with normal nutrition and vitamin intake;
the appearance of leukonychia - white stripes and spots on the nail plate.

Patients periodically note spontaneous body pains that cannot be associated with anything.

Drug toxic encephalopathy

Sometimes it occurs in a child under three years of age, when parents do not remove the first-aid kit from the home in an inaccessible place. The reason for the disruption of the brain can be a whole list of drugs, the active components of which pass through the natural protective barrier and directly or indirectly affect the functional activity of the organ. These medicines include:

neuroleptics (Apozopiclone, Borizol);
salicylates (Aspenorm);
opioid analgesics (Morphine);
glucocorticoids (Prednisolone);
bromides.

The clinical picture of poisoning, for example, Amitriptyline (Amitriptylin) includes:

psychomotor agitation;
disruption of the digestive tract: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sour belching;
increase in blood pressure;
change in heart rate;
cerebral edema;
clouding of consciousness.

Among patients, a larger percentage are people who are on long-term treatment and take the medicines listed above regularly and in the wrong dose. The higher the concentration of the active substance, the more severe the encephalopathy.

First aid

The procedure depends on what form the poisoning has acquired: acute or chronic. With slowly developing intoxication, the patient will independently understand that there is a problem with his body and will consult a doctor. With a rapidly occurring encephalopathy, urgent measures are required, including:

washing the stomach with a weak soda or saline solution by pressing the root of the tongue with two fingers;
use of sorbent: Smecta, Polysorb, Polyphepan, Enterosgel;
the use of a special agent - Regidron, capable of maintaining water and electrolyte balance against the background of intoxication;
constant conversation with the victim in order to control his consciousness and bring him to his senses.

All other manipulations are carried out by ambulance doctors. Additionally, giving any medication is strictly prohibited.

Diagnostics

Taking an anamnesis of life, illness, a general examination is carried out by a neurologist. This specialist is able to pay attention to some asymmetry of the face, to identify changes in reflexes and the patient's response to external stimuli, even if they are minor. With emotional lability, the presence of delusions and hallucinations, psychiatrists are involved.

Among the laboratory and instrumental research methods, the most important are:

general and biochemical blood test;
general urine analysis;
MRI and CT of the brain;
electroencephalography;
myography;
radiography of the chest, abdomen and heart for the purpose of differential diagnosis.

Usually, toxic encephalopathy is put on the basis of the anamnesis and complaints of the victim, other methods are required only to confirm the words of the doctor. Very rarely, pathology is confused with trauma, a tumor, and an acute violation of the blood supply to the nervous tissue.

medical treatment

Therapy is carried out both on an outpatient basis, that is, at home, and in a hospital. In acute intoxication of the brain, glucose, saline solutions are initially administered orally or intravenously to stop the clinical picture. Sometimes additional gastric lavage and the installation of a cleansing enema are required.

In the presence of psychomotor agitation, doctors prescribe antipsychotics, namely sedatives, hypnotics, tranquilizers.

To improve cerebral blood supply, prevent stroke, stabilize the functioning of nerve cells, medications such as Glycine, Piracetam, Cavinton, as well as herbal preparations - tinctures of Eleutherococcus, Rhodiola rosea, and ginseng are prescribed.

As a supplement, all patients with encephalopathy and other diseases of the central nervous system are recommended to use vitamin B complexes, for example, Milgamma.

During rehabilitation, a person undergoes a number of physiotherapeutic methods of treatment, namely:

massage;
mud baths;
acupuncture;
electrophoresis.

All of them are aimed at improving metabolic processes in the body, getting rid of stress and restoring brain function.

Possible consequences

Complications appear in case of inadequate treatment of the victim and untimely seeking medical help. Development is possible:

mental degradation;
persistent mental disorders;
stroke
toxic coma;
oncology;
swelling of brain tissue;
lethal outcome.

It is worth remembering that in the last stages of encephalopathy is irreversible, it is completely impossible to cure it, so you should not postpone therapy.

Prevention

use medicines for their intended purpose and in the right dosage;
do not abuse alcohol, have a sense of proportion;
give up cigarettes, avoid drugs;
do not ignore the rules of personal protection and safety at work.

Adhere to a healthy lifestyle, be outdoors more often and use only high-quality products that are probably free of heavy metals and pesticides.

Expert opinion

Brain poisoning directly depends on the consciousness of the person himself. Only he can decide whether he will drink an extra shot of vodka, smoke another cigarette and go to the doctor for a prescription for medicine and recommendations. As long as the principle “maybe it will cost” is preserved in society, victims with a change in consciousness, respiratory depression and mental disorders will increasingly come to the toxicology department.