Acute Iron Poisoning There are five classically described phases of toxicity: Gastrointestinal phase (~6 hours post-ingestion) - Secondary to caustic mucosal injury - Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting Latent phase (6-24 hours post-ingestion) - Symptom resolution due to iron redistribution - Often absent in severe toxicity however presence does not preclude deterioration Shock and metabolic acidosis (12-48 hours post-ingestion) - Anion gap metabolic acidosis with both distributive and cardiogenic shock - Progressive multi-organ failure (ARDS, coagulopathy, renal failure) Hepatotoxicity (24-96 hours post-ingestion) - Massive hepatic iron deposition leads to acute hepatic necrosis Bowel Obstruction (2-8 weeks post-ingestion) - Secondary to caustic bowel injury and subsequent luminal scarring and stenosis By Dr. Kathryn Watson @Kat_Watson #Iron #Poisoning #Toxicity #Toxicology #Diagnosis #Management #Ferrous
