| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | Poisoning caused by ingestion of antifreeze. |
| Alternative Names | |
| 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 no urine outputblood in urineweaknessfatigueconvulsionsrespiratoryrapid breathing skin blue lips and fingernails gastrointestinal nausea and/or vomiting heart and blood vessels rapid heartbeatlow blood pressure nervous system headachestuporunconsciousness slurred speech unsteady gait for methanol: body as a whole weakness leg cramps convulsions respiratory rapid, shallow breathingstop breathing eyes, ears, nose, and throat blurred visionblindness 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. |
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