A CROSS- SECTIONAL STUDY ON CLINICAL PROFILE OF ALCOHOL INDUCED NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS

• Published in: Journal of evolution of medical and dental sciences Vol. 8; no. 19; pp. 1555 - 1558
• Main Authors: Chandra, Indira Priyadarsini, Boppudi, Sreedevi, Charitha, S. Sai, Vyshnavi, B, Keerthi, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Akshantala Enterprises Private Limited 13.05.2019
• Subjects: Accidents; Alcoholics; Alcoholism; Complications and side effects; Death; Dementia; Domestic violence; Drinking (Alcoholic beverages); Encephalopathy; Ethanol; Health; Insomnia; Medical examination; Nervous system diseases; Nutrition; Pyrimidines; Risk factors; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Substance withdrawal syndrome; Violence; India
• DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2019/345
• ISSN: 2278-4748

BACKGROUND Alcohol is the most frequently consumed toxic substance in the world. Alcohol contributes to over 200 diseases and related health conditions, most notably alcohol dependence. Globally, alcohol misuse is the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability among people between the ages of 15 and 49. WHO stated that in the age group 20-39 years, approximately 25 percent of the total deaths were attributable to alcoholism Acute. alcohol intoxication is associated with number of complications including accidents and domestic violence. During drinking periods and withdrawal, alcoholics commonly experience sleep disturbances like falling asleep and staying asleep (decreased total sleep time). Some neurological disorders related to long term alcoholism are predominantly due to inadequate nutrition (thiamine deficiency that causes Wernicke's encephalopathy), but others appear to involve the neurotoxicity of ethanol on brain (alcohol withdrawal syndrome and dementia) and peripheral nerves (alcoholic neuropathy and myopathy). [1] We wanted to study the effect of alcohol on central and peripheral nervous system in alcohol abuse patients admitted to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia, Government General Hospital, Tirupati. METHODS A cross sectional study of neurological manifestations of alcohol was conducted in male patients who were admitted in the medical ward of SVRRGH, Tirupati from January 2017 to June 2017. Patients were subjected to predesigned and pretested questionnaire consisting of age, duration and quantity of alcohol intake, type of alcohol, sleep pattern, memory disturbance and clinical examination. RESULTS Mean age of the study subjects was 48.5 years. Sleep disturbance (Insomnia) was most commonly observed acute neurological manifestation in 90 (60%) alcoholics out of 150 followed by withdrawal syndrome (46%). Most common chronic neurological manifestation was peripheral neuropathy (28%) followed by cerebellar degeneration (16.7%). There was a statistically significant difference between age and cerebellar degeneration. (p value<0.5). CONCLUSIONS A cross-sectional study of neurological manifestations of alcohol was conducted in male alcoholic patients admitted in medical ward of SVRRGH, Tirupati. Mean age of the study subjects was 48.5 years and half of them were dependent on brandy followed by country liquor. Most common acute neurological manifestation was sleep disturbance (insomnia) followed by withdrawal syndrome. Most common chronic neurological manifestation was peripheral neuropathy followed by cerebellar degeneration. There was a statistically significant difference between age and cerebellar degeneration. (p value<0.5).