Acute Oral Iron Poisoning in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Iron intoxication with oral supplements is a cause of morbidity and mortality in infancy. Detailed history must include timing and amount of elemental iron ingested. Peak serum iron determination may help clinical management and determine the prognosis. A 14-year-old female adolescent with mood disorder and irregular follow-up was brought to the emergency department with incoercible vomiting and abdominal pain. She claimed to have ingested iron pills 12 hours before admission in a total amount of 27 mg/kg of elemental iron. She was hospitalized and intravenous fluids were started. Serum iron level at admission was 373 mcg/dL. During hospitalization there was a resolution of symptoms, and she was discharged after a 24-hour observation period. Intentional iron ingestions may convey a risk to suicidal intention and should be evaluated at an emergency department. Late arrival to the emergency department may difficult the clinical approach and worsen the prognosis. KEYWORDS Iron, intoxication, adolescent.