Alcoholism - Dangerous hallucination syndrome in alcoholics

When the alcoholic quiver turned up, they screamed, struggled violently, braced themselves, and the doctor had to tie their cloths and legs to the bed.

In the sick room 524, Department of Gastroenterology, Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), patients suffering from alcoholism are tied tightly to the bed with white cloth strings. There are people lying still, some people with limbs that are wrestling and struggling are lying up, when they wake up in an unconscious state, screaming. They panicked and always said "see" the monster in the room, fleeing the giant mouse chasing after them.

Quan's father is a patient suffering from alcohol. His father screamed, his arms and legs smashed, it became a habit that Mr. Quan hastily took the rope to tie his father's hands and feet to the bed. Earlier, his father was hospitalized with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, big belly and bloating. His father has been drinking alcohol for 30 years, drinking from half a liter to a liter of alcohol every day. After a few days of treatment, because he could not drink alcohol, he showed signs of alcoholism: Struggling, screaming . At that time Mr. Quan could do nothing but bind his father to the bed.

Patients suffering from alcoholism are tied to a bed to keep them safe. (Photo: PN).

Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, Deputy Head of Bach Mai Hospital's Gastrointestinal Department said that patients hospitalized with withdrawal syndrome and alcoholism are not uncommon. The doctors must bind the patients to prevent them from running, falling, even jumping from the high floor to the ground.

Most patients initially go to the hospital due to cirrhosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage . After a few days of treatment, do not drink alcohol, patients begin to show withdrawal symptoms (also known as mental disorders). due to alcohol) , in which the most severe level is alcohol . The usual expression on the first day of seizure is restlessness, insomnia, then limbs trembled, sweating all over the body, paranoid, hallucinations, screaming, struggling. The patient completely loses the ability to coordinate behaviors and cognitive abilities.

According to Dr. Khanh, this situation is common in people who are drinking regularly and then become ill and cannot drink anymore. Also can happen in people who do not drink alcohol, only drink a little also appear paranoid, dangerous hallucinations. Treatment for these patients is very difficult. The most dangerous are convulsions, electrolyte disorders such as blood potassium, hypoglycemia, not treating patients well. Meanwhile, these alcoholics suffer from weak resistance, or infection.

Doctor Nguyen Trung Cap, Department of Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases (Hanoi), said the possibility of patients stopping alcohol after treatment is very difficult, because the process of alcohol withdrawal requires determination from patients and encouragement of the family as well as the doctor's support. The illusion, paranoia will end but the most dangerous if the patient continues to drink alcohol is the risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer.

Alcoholic beverages are one of the four major risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. It is the leading cause of death in men aged 15-49 in Vietnam. The death rate from liver cancer associated with alcoholic beverages in men aged 50-69 is nearly 10%, 3 times higher than the global average.

According to health experts, there is no standard for harmful alcohol consumption. Therefore, ideally people should not drink alcohol. If drinking, no more than 2 units a day for men under 60 years old, less likely to cause health damage. One week should stop taking 1-2 days for the liver to have a chance to replicate. People with liver disease should reduce to the lowest possible level.

One unit of alcohol is equivalent to a 330ml beer, 2/3 beer beer / 330ml beer, a small glass of 100ml white or red wine and a small 30ml glass of spirits.