Antifreeze poisoning | Multimedia Encyclopedia | Health Information (2024)

Antifreeze is a liquid used to cool engines. It is also called engine coolant. This article discusses poisoning caused by swallowing antifreeze.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

The poisonous ingredients in antifreeze are:

• Ethylene glycol
• Methanol
• Propylene glycol

Where Found

The above ingredients are found in various antifreezes. They may also be used in other products.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of antifreeze poisoning in different parts of the body.

Airways and lungs

• Rapid breathing

  Hyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.

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• No breathing

  Most people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...

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Bladder and kidneys

• Blood in urine

  Blood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...

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• No urine output or decreased urine output

  Decreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 ml of urine in 24 hours (a little over 2 cups)....

  See Also

  Antifreeze Poisoning: Symptoms and TreatmentGetting Drunk Could Save Your Life From Automotive Fluid PoisoningWhy Do Alcoholics Drink Antifreeze?

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Eyes, ears, nose, and throat

• Blurred vision

  There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: HalosBlurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see ...

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• Blindness

Heart and blood

• Rapid heartbeat

  Palpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...

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• Low blood pressure

Muscles and joints: Leg cramps

Nervous system

• Coma

  Decreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness. A coma is a state of decreased alertness from which a person cannot be awakened. A long-term co...

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• Convulsions

  A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure...

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• Dizziness
• Fatigue

  Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

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• Headache
• Slurred speech
• Stupor (lack of alertness)

  Decreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness. A coma is a state of decreased alertness from which a person cannot be awakened. A long-term co...

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• Unconsciousness

  Unconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...

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• Unsteady walk
• Weakness

  Weakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.

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Skin: Blue lips and fingernails

Stomach and gastrointestinal tract

• Nausea and vomiting

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

Use standard first aid and CPR for signs of shock or no heartbeat (cardiac arrest). Call your local poison control center or 911 for more help.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine
• Chest x-ray
• CT scan (advanced brain imaging)
• EKG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)
• Intravenous fluids (through a vein)
• Medicines to reverse the effects of the poison
• Tube placed down the nose and into the stomach (sometimes)

Dialysis (kidney machine) treatment may be needed during recovery. Sometimes the person will need it for the rest of their life.

Outlook (Prognosis)

For ethylene glycol: Death may occur within the first 24 hours. If the patient survives, there may be little or no urine output for several weeks before the kidneys recover. Any brain damage may be permanent. Vision loss or blindness may also be permanent.

For methanol: Methanol is extremely toxic. As little as 2 tablespoons (1 ounce or 30 milliliters) can kill a child, and 4 to 16 tablespoons (2 to 8 ounces or 60 to 240 milliliters) can be deadly for an adult. The outcome depends on how much was swallowed and how soon appropriate care was given.

Permanent damage to the nervous system may occur. This can cause blindness, decreased mental functioning, and a condition similar to Parkinson disease.