title: Fatal hypermagnesemia caused by an Epsom salt enema: a case illustration.
abstract: The authors describe a case of fatal hypermagnesemia caused by an Epsom salt enema. A 7-year-old male presented with cardiac arrest and was found to have a serum magnesium level of 41.2 mg/dL (33.9 mEq/L) after having received an Epsom salt enema earlier that day. The medical history of Epsom salt, the common causes and symptoms of hypermagnesemia, and the treatment of hypermagnesemia are reviewed. The easy availability of magnesium, the subtle initial symptoms of hypermagnesemia, and the need for education about the toxicity of magnesium should be of interest to physicians.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. ntofil@peds.uab.edu
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tofil
authors.forename: Kim W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: Margaret K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Winkler
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020167:Hyperlysinemias / Q000209:etiology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008274:Magnesium