What Is Iron Poisoning?
Iron poisoning mostly affects children because iron tablets can look like sweets. Taking less than 40 mg of elemental iron per kilogram of body weight usually does not cause problems. However, doses above 60 mg per kilogram can be very dangerous.
To give you an idea, a common iron tablet weighing 200 mg contains about 60 to 65 mg of elemental iron.
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Symptoms of Iron Poisoning Over Time
- Phase 1 (30 minutes to 6 hours):
- Nausea and vomiting, which may sometimes have blood in it
- Belly pain
- Signs of shock (weakness, fast heartbeat, cold skin)
- Acid build-up in the body
- Phase 2 (6 to 12 hours):
- Symptoms may improve or disappear temporarily
- Phase 3 (12 to 48 hours):
- Severe shock
- Collapse of blood circulation
- Acid build-up continues
- Low blood sugar
- Seizures and coma
- Phase 4 (2 to 4 days):
- Liver and kidney failure
- Fluid in the lungs causing breathing problems
- Phase 5 (After 4 days):
- Scarring and blockage in the digestive system (for those who survive)
How Is Iron Poisoning Treated?
Desferrioxamine should not be used if the patient has kidney failure or is not producing urine.
Fluids are given through a drip to treat shock and replace lost fluids.
An antidote called desferrioxamine is used if the poisoning is severe or if there is acid build-up.
Desferrioxamine is given continuously through an IV drip and usually not for more than 24 hours.
If blood pressure drops, more fluids are given.
Treatment continues until acid levels in the body return to normal or the patient improves.
