Acute alcohol intoxication in a two-month-old baby

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Toxicology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Accidental ingestion of alcohol in infants can lead to severe health consequences.
• Sake, a Japanese rice wine, contains a significant alcohol concentration that can be dangerous if consumed by infants.

Observation:

• A 2-month-old infant presented with symptoms of alcohol intoxication, including flushing, respiratory distress, and loss of consciousness, after consuming formula prepared with sake.
• Physical examination revealed redness, unconsciousness, alcoholic odor, tachycardia, and tachypnea.
• Laboratory findings included metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, and a high albumin-globulin ratio.

Findings:

• The infant experienced transient proteinuria and glycosuria, suggesting impaired renal tubule reabsorption.
• These renal abnormalities are hypothesized to be a consequence of the severe metabolic acidosis and hyperglycemia induced by alcohol poisoning.
• The infant showed significant clinical and laboratory improvement within 10 hours after medical intervention.

Implications:

• This case highlights the critical importance of careful formula preparation and the dangers of accidental alcohol exposure in infants.
• Understanding the physiological effects of alcohol intoxication in neonates is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management.
• The observed renal tubular dysfunction underscores the systemic impact of acute alcohol poisoning on developing organ systems.