Clinical manifestations of 7 types of chronic alcoholic neuropathy

Drinking can cheer people up and liven up the atmosphere. In many social occasions, it is a wonderful thing for everyone to celebrate together by raising a toast. But you should drink in moderation. If you drink too much, not only will you not be happy, it may even bring disaster to yourself. Long-term uncontrolled drinking is likely to lead to chronic alcoholic neuropathy, which is harmful to your body.

1. Alcohol dependence

Uncontrollable urge to drink, a pattern of drinking at regular times every day, a need to drink above all else, an increased tolerance for alcohol, recurrent withdrawal, the only way to break the withdrawal is to continue drinking, and a tendency to relapse after withdrawal

2. Delirium tremens

It is an acute mental disorder that occurs when chronic alcoholics suddenly stop drinking. The patient is confused, excited, panicky and has hallucinations, accompanied by fever, sweating, increased blood pressure, tachycardia, coarse tremors of the tongue, lips and limbs and dilated pupils. In severe cases, convulsions may occur.

3. Korsakov syndrome

It is a sequela of chronic alcoholism, with clinical features including recent memory and orientation disorders, confusion and fabrication, impaired judgment and euphoria. This syndrome caused by alcoholism is believed to be caused by nutritional deficiencies and thiamine deficiency, but complete recovery is rarely achieved through treatment with B vitamins.

4. Peripheral neuropathy

It is the most common complication caused by long-term drinking, and often occurs in patients with long-term alcohol abuse and up to 100g per day. Chronic alcoholic polyneuropathy is a common complication of chronic alcoholism. Motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves may be affected. It usually occurs about 10 years after cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic alcoholism, and the incidence rate accounts for about 34% of patients with chronic alcoholism.

5. Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration

The main symptom of alcoholic cerebellar degeneration is movement disorder, and the main clinical features are limb ataxia and dysarthria.

6. Alcoholic myopathy

① Acute myopathy: occurs in patients with long-term drinking and chronic alcohol poisoning, and often develops acutely after a single large amount of drinking. Symptoms include myalgia, swelling, movement disorders and painful cramps, with weakened or absent tendon firing. Laboratory examinations showed elevated serum creatine phosphokinase activity, muscle biopsy showed acute rhabdomyolysis, and electromyography indicated myogenic damage. Myoglobulinuria often occurs in this disease, and death is often caused by acute renal failure and hyperkalemia.

② Chronic myopathy: mostly caused by long-term alcoholism, but can also be transformed from an acute type. The initial manifestation is diffuse muscle weakness, followed by characteristic proximal muscle weakness, especially in the pelvic girdle muscles and thigh muscles. Muscle atrophy, weakened or absent tendon firing, and mild muscle pain are common.

7. Alcoholic dementia

Alcoholic dementia or alcoholic dementia is a primary, characteristic dementia caused by the chronic direct effects of alcohol on brain tissue. It is organic brain damage caused by long-term and heavy drinking and is the most serious state of chronic alcoholism. Symptoms include tremors, delirium, convulsions, acute or chronic personality changes, mental retardation, memory impairment, etc.