Acute iron poisoning. A case report
Jover, F.; Andreu, L.; Robert, J.; Merino, J.
Revista Medica de Chile 129(6): 660-662
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9887 PMID: 11510207 Document Number: 537142
The ingestion of iron-containing products is a potential toxicological emergency. It is a leading cause of pediatric unintentional ingestion fatalities because some iron-containing compounds are readily available (vitamin mixtures, iron pills). Among adults, it has been described as accidental overdoses (mainly in pregnancy) and as suicidal attempts. We report a 42 years old woman, admitted due to the intentional ingestion of iron pills with suicidal purposes. A plain abdominal X ray showed at least 20 pills in the gastric fundus and antrum. She was successfully treated with intravenous desferroxamine chelation. Plain abdominal X ray examination can be very useful in the diagnosis of acute iron poisoning.