Acute Iron Poisoning in Children

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Abstract
A ten-year study of all cases of excessive ingestion of iron compounds seen at two hospitals serving a population of about 400,000 people revealed 27 childhood cases. None of them died, but one experienced moderate morbidity, probably related to therapy with a chelating agent. A rapid method for the detection of iron in excess of the iron-binding capacity was found to be of great value in helping to decide which cases required immediate therapy with a specific chelate and which cases could be managed symptomatically. Therapy was usually begun with lavage of the stomach with a phosphate salt to bind all unabsorbed iron. The chelate deferoxamine mesylate was used only when there was free iron demonstrated in the serum. Most cases recovered with symptomatic therapy.

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