Blogs

How long does it usually take for iron overdose symptoms to become apparent?

Iron poisoning occurs when a person swallows a large number of iron supplements. Sadly, this is most common in children, especially when iron tablets can look like candy to them. In adults, intentional overdosing is rare.

Iron poisoning is usually noticeable within 6 hours after taking an excessive amount of iron, although some less severe symptoms and remnants can occur a few days later. This destroys your intestinal lining and irritates the stomach. Symptoms of iron poisoning include severe vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, but these can escalate to include dehydration, lethargy, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and, in children, blood in their vomit and stool.

Keep in mind that the amount of iron needed to overdose depends on the size of the child, as an 8-year-old may show no symptoms from the amount that would cause serious symptoms in a 3-year-old. As for the iron overdose amount, symptoms generally appear at doses larger than 20mg/kg (based on the body weight of the child).

Since the only evidence of an iron overdose is an opened iron supplement bottle, it’s best to take the child to a hospital for an iron overdose treatment as soon as you suspect the poisoning.

Once treated, symptoms generally improve within 6 to 24 hours. However, if left untreated, in cases of serious poisoning, it can lead to organ damage, particularly affecting the liver, kidneys and heart, and can cause shock and even death.