Friday, December 7, 2012

WARNING: Children and Iron Poisoning


According to the Food and Drug Administration, iron-containing supplements are the leading cause of pediatric poisoning deaths for children under age six in the United States. Iron poisoning in children causes problems within minutes or hours after ingestion. Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal bleeding, developing into shock, coma, seizures, and death. Even if no symptoms appear, or if the child seems to be recovering, medical treatment is necessary.

Food Sources of Iron

Some good food sources of iron are clams, fortified cereal, beef liver, chicken leg, white rice, ground beef, cashews, whole wheat bread, egg, and milk.

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Iron, in Milligrams
Age/Sex

Males

14-18 years 11

19+ years 8

Females

14-18 years 15

19-50 years 18

51 + years 8




Iron Poisoning in kids Treatment Once the doctor makes certain the kid is respiratory unremarkably, the kid probably can have his or her whole intestine cleansed by drinking a robust laxative fluid. Severe poisonings would require IV chelation medical care - a series of IVs containing deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal), a chemical that binds to iron during a cell and is then excreted in piss. Deferoxamine will be administered by IV or injection, however the IV route is most well-liked for easier dose adjustment. A amendment in piss color (to a red-orange) and low pressure levela} are common facet effects with deferoxamine treatment. Usually kids need no over twenty four hours of medical care. Orogastric irrigation, or pumping of the abdomen, will be thought of, however it's usually solely useful if performed among one hour of swallowing the pills. Insertion of the tube will cause complications, and plenty of pills might not work through the ports of a irrigation tube if they're not disintegrated. If bodily process of alternative medications is suspected, the medical practitioner might offer the kid carbon to drink. carbon doesn't bind to iron however could also be helpful in take up alternative medications. Source: The National Academy of Sciences, 2001.