title: Fatal overdose of iron tablets in adults.
abstract: Acute iron toxicity is usually seen in children with accidental ingestion of iron-containing syrups. However, the literature on acute iron toxicity with suicidal intent in adults is scant. We report, the first instance of two adults with fatal ingestion of a single drug overdose with iron tablets from India. Two young adults developed severe gastro-intestinal bleeding and fulminant hepatic failure 48 h after deliberate consumption of large doses of iron tablets. Serum iron levels measured 36 h after ingestion were normal presumably due to the redistribution of iron to the intracellular compartment. Despite aggressive supportive management in medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital, the patients succumbed to the toxic doses of iron.
authors: Department of Medicine 4, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Kundavaram P P
authors: KP
authors: Abhilash
authors: J Jonathan
authors: JJ
authors: Arul
authors: Divya
authors: D
authors: Bala
keywords: Adults; fatal; iron tablets; overdose