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Alcoholic ketoacidosis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Ketoacidosis - alcoholic

Symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Agitation
  • Changed level of alertness, which may lead to coma
  • Confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
  • Irregular deep, rapid breathing (Kussmaul's sign)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness, light-headedness, and thirst

Signs and tests:

  • Arterial blood gases (measure the acid/base balance and oxygen level in blood)
  • Blood alcohol level
  • Blood chemistries, such as CHEM-20
  • Toxicology (poison) screening
  • Urine ketones
  • Reviewed last on: 4/1/2011
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cho KC, Fukagawa M, Kurokawa K. Fluid and electrolyte disorders. In: McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA, eds. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 48th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2009:chap 21.

DuBose TD Jr. Acidosis and alkalosis. In: Fauci A , Kasper D, Longo DL, et al, eds. Harrison's Principals of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2008:chap 48.

Wiener SW, Hoffman RS. Alcoholic ketoacidosis. In: Wolfson Ab, Hendey GW, Ling LJ, et al, eds. Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 25.

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