title: [Urgent care to an alcoholic patient].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of the alcoholic patient is sometimes hindered by the concealment of consumption. Able to label as an alcoholic in a patient with acute pathology can define more precisely the differential diagnosis of the syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze alcoholism from the perspective of internal medicine through the presentation of a clinical case discussion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a male patient with stigmata of chronic alcoholism and alcoholic liver disease presents with fever and abdominal pain. We discuss how to proceed to the identification of these signs and discuss the differential diagnosis of various medical problems presented with references pathophysiology. Finally, it suggests the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This highlights the need to identify alcoholic patients and evaluate and integrate together all the medical problems it presents.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Verín, Ourense, España.
authors.forename: A J Chamorro
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: F Javier Laso
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Guzmán
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged