title: Diagnosis of alcohol ingestion in mild head injuries.
abstract: 42 per cent of a consecutive series of patients with mild head injuries with concussion were found to have positive blood-alcohol tests. There were errors in the clinical diagnosis of alcohol ingestion among patients with both positive and negative blood-alcohols. Medicolegal questions have so dominated the problems of diagnosing alcohol ingestion as to prevent doctors considering its clinical importance. The value of a laboratory test giving an immediate reading is emphasised.
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001944:Breath Tests; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol