An emergency medicine physician based in Virginia has issued a stark warning to parents about the potentially lethal dangers lurking in household vitamin cabinets.
Dr Ashley Alker, who practises in Fredericksburg, has drawn attention to the serious risks that iron-containing supplements pose to young children in her recently published book, "99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them."
The physician notes most people fail to recognise that over-the-counter products can cause overdoses.
"That's very dangerous for young kids, especially because they don't need very much to overdose," Dr Alker told TODAY.com.
The initial symptoms of iron poisoning include gastrointestinal distress
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Prenatal vitamins present a particular hazard, as they contain the highest concentrations of iron among multivitamin products.
The National Capital Poison Centre warns that households with newborns face elevated risks, given that mothers may have these supplements readily accessible.
Compounding the danger is the fact that many iron supplements now come as gummies with an appealing taste and appearance.
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"For babies, infants, toddlers and kids, if they eat a handful of those, that can be an overdose for them. So anything with iron in it should be locked up," Dr Alker cautioned.
Children's smaller body size means they can reach toxic levels far more rapidly than adults.
The initial symptoms of iron poisoning include gastrointestinal distress, with sufferers experiencing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea and constipation, according to the National Institutes of Health.
However, the condition rapidly deteriorates beyond these early warning signs.
"The blood turns to acid, and the iron causes bleeding and liver, heart and kidney dysfunction," Dr Alker writes in her book.
The NIH cautions that consuming extremely elevated quantities of iron - reaching hundreds or even thousands of milligrams against the 8-18 milligrams adults require daily - can trigger organ failure, seizures, coma and death.
Parents should take decisive action by securing all adult supplements out of sight and beyond children's reach, with Dr Alker specifically recommending that tablets and gummies be locked away.
Reassuringly, the National Capital Poison Centre notes that children's multivitamins typically contain negligible amounts of iron or none whatsoever.
Should parents suspect their child has ingested iron supplements, immediate medical attention is essential.
Children's smaller body size means they can reach toxic levels far more rapidly
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An intravenous antidote exists and can be administered at the hospital, though Dr Alker emphasises it must be given promptly to be effective.
Though iron remains vital for maintaining good health, consuming it in appropriate quantities - ideally through iron-rich foods - is paramount.
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