Question

Patient with vision loss, coma, optic disc hyperemia, and anion gap metabolic acidosis:

a) Ethylene glycol poisoning
b) Methanol poisoning
c) Carbon monoxide poisoning
d) Lead poisoning

Answer 1

The symptoms you described are associated with *b) methanol poisoning*. It can cause low level of consciousness, poor coordination, abdominal pain etc and vision problems may start as early as 12 hours after you’re exposed.

Answer 2

The symptoms described including vision loss, optic disc hyperemia, and anion gap metabolic acidosis are indicative of methanol poisoning, which can cause optic nerve damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms associated with a patient with vision loss, coma, optic disc hyperemia, and anion gap metabolic acidosis can be indicative of methanol poisoning. Ethylene glycol poisoning also causes metabolic acidosis, but it is the specific visual symptoms mentioned that point towards methanol. Methanol is metabolized to formic acid, which is highly toxic to the optic nerve, leading to optic disc hyperemia and vision loss. In the case of carbon monoxide poisoning, symptoms can resemble flu-like conditions, including weakness, confusion, and sometimes a cherry-red skin color, but vision loss and optic disc hyperemia are not typical presentations. Lead poisoning does not commonly present with the acute symptoms described here.