Iron poisoning is caused by an excess of iron in the blood. It is a common cause of death in young children who consume large quantities of iron supplement pills, which resemble sweets and are widely used, particularly by pregnant women.
In nature, iron is usually found in its oxidized form, iron (III) oxide, which is insoluble and therefore non-toxic. Ferrous iron is soluble and highly toxic.
Symptoms
The first indication of iron poisoning by ingestion is a pain in the stomach, as the stomach lining becomes ulcerated. This is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The pain then abates for 24 hours as the iron passes deeper into the body and damages internal organs, particularly the brain and the liver. The body goes into shock and death from liver failure can result.
Treatment
Treatment consists of cleaning the iron from the stomach using a chelating agent such as desferrioxamine. If this fails then dialysis is the next step.
External link
General Practice Notebook (http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/)
Iron is important for good nutrition because it is used in blood and muscle tissue.
Iron is available in numerous over-the-counter and prescription tablets and liquids, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate.
Treatment for ironpoisoning may include removing iron from the stomach, checking a blood level and, when needed, giving a chelating agent to bind up the iron in the bloodstream and help eliminate it from the body.
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