A pre-hospital team is called to a patient who has ingested an unknown quantity of iron tablets. She is vomiting blood-stained material and has abdomi...

Question

A pre-hospital team is called to a patient who has ingested an unknown quantity of iron tablets. She is vomiting blood-stained material and has abdominal pain. Her vital signs show tachycardia and hypotension. What is the specific danger of iron overdose and is there a specific antidote?

Accepted Answer

Iron causes direct GI mucosal corrosion (haematemesis), then hepatotoxicity, metabolic acidosis, and multi-organ failure; the specific antidote is IV desferrioxamine (an iron chelator)

Answer

Iron overdose is always benign as excess iron is simply excreted

Answer

N-acetylcysteine is the antidote for iron overdose

Answer

The antidote is activated charcoal

Answer

Iron overdose only causes constipation

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Iron Overdose

A pre-hospital team is called to a patient who has ingested an unknown quantity of iron tablets. She is vomiting blood-stained material and has abdominal pain. Her vital signs show tachycardia and hypotension. What is the specific danger of iron overdose and is there a specific antidote?