THE Brazil has 209 cases in methanol poisoning investigation after drinking alcoholaccording to information released by the Ministry of Health on Sunday (5).
Across the country, there are 16 confirmed cases – 14 in São Paulo and 2 in Paraná. The information is sent by the states and consolidated by the Strategic Information Center and response in National Health Surveillance (CIEVS).
The State of São Paulo is responsible for most notifications, with 14 confirmed cases and 178 under investigation.
In all, 13 states have reported cases – Federal District, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rondônia, Sao Paulo, Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba and Ceará. The states of Bahia and Espírito Santo had the discarded cases. Already Ceará notified the first suspect case.
To date, the country has 15 death records, with two deaths confirmed in the state of São Paulo. The other deaths (13) are under investigation.
- 7, in São Paulo,
- 3, in Pernambuco,
- 1, in Mato Grosso do Sul,
- 1, in Paraíba,
- 1, in Ceará.
The information consider the records sent by the states until 4 pm on Sunday (5) and are subject to local updates.
Antidote
The Ministry of Health also reported that it began the distribution of pharmaceutical ethanol, an antidote used in the treatment of methanol poisoning, to the states that formalized inventory reinforcement request.
In this first shipment, 580 ampoules were sent to five states:
- 240 for Pernambuco,
- 100 for Paraná,
- 90 for Bahia,
- 90 for the Federal District,
- 60 to Mato Grosso do Sul.
The distributed units are part of the 4,300 ampoules delivered to the inventory of the Unified Health System (SUS) by Federal University Hospitals, in partnership with the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (EBSERH).
Emergency
Methanol poisoning is an extremely severity medical emergency. The substance, when ingested, is metabolized in the body in toxic products (such as formaldehyde and formic acid), which can lead to death.
The main symptoms of intoxication are: cloudy vision or vision loss (may reach blindness) and widespread malaise (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating).
In case of identification of symptoms, immediately seek medical emergency services and contact at least one of the following institutions:
Anvisa Dial-Intoxication: 0800 722 6001;
Of your city for specialized guidance (See list here);
São Paulo Poison Control Center (CCI): (11) 5012-5311 or 0800-771-3733-from anywhere in the country;
It is important to identify and guide possible contacts that have consumed the same drink, recommending that you immediately seek a health service for proper assessment and treatment.
The delay in care and identification of intoxication increases the likelihood of the most severe outcome with the patient’s death.
