A woman was repeatedly admitted to the emergency room with symptoms of drunkenness, including excessive sleepiness, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol on her breath. However, she had not consumed any alcohol. It was later discovered that her gut microbes were fermenting carbohydrates and essentially making her drunk, a condition known as auto-brewery syndrome.
Despite not drinking due to religious beliefs, the woman was misdiagnosed with alcohol intoxication multiple times before doctors realized the true cause of her symptoms. Her history of recurrent urinary tract infections and frequent antibiotic use had led to an imbalance in her gut bacteria, allowing fungi to produce alcohol. This rare syndrome is difficult to diagnose, with fewer than 100 cases reported since its discovery in the 1940s.
Treatment for the woman included antifungal medication, a low-carb diet to deprive the fungi of sugar, probiotics to restore helpful bacteria in her gut, and narrow-spectrum antibiotics for UTIs. After following this regimen, her symptoms disappeared. Continued monitoring and controlled reintroduction of carbohydrates were recommended to prevent relapses.
The case highlights the importance of awareness of auto-brewery syndrome for accurate diagnosis and management, as it can have significant social, legal, and medical implications. This unusual medical condition serves as a reminder of the complexity of the human body and the importance of continued research and understanding in the field of medicine.
Vocabulary List:
- Drunkenness (noun): State of being intoxicated with alcohol.
- Auto-brewery Syndrome (noun): A medical condition where the body produces alcohol internally.
- Misdiagnosed (verb): To diagnose a condition incorrectly.
- Recurrent (adjective): Occurring repeatedly.
- Antifungal (adjective): Used to inhibit or destroy fungi.
- Probiotics (noun): Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for healthespecially the digestive system.
