Multiple vitamins and vitamins with iron: accidental poisoning in children

To insure adequate nutrition, parents and pediatricians often advocate vitamin and mineral supplementation in young children. A retrospective review of 275 pediatric cases (6 mo-6 yr) involving multiple vitamins and vitamins with iron was conducted. Six cases with co-ingestants were excluded. The product ingested was the child's own dietary supplement in 93% of the cases. Fifty-six percent were children's multiple vitamins and 44% were children's multiple vitamins with iron. Adult vitamin preparations accounted for 7% of the ingestions. The average amount of vitamin A ingested by history was 43,300 IU (1,500-225,000) while the mean ingestion of iron was 16.8 mg/kg (0.9-77.5 mg/kg). Fifty ingestions (18.2%) involved more than one child. The mean time since ingestion was 15.8 min (0-150 min). Management data showed 246 (89.5%) being treated in the home setting with dilution (83%) or syrup of ipecac induced-emesis (10%). Medical intervention including emesis, serum iron/TIBC, and oral complexation was needed in 10.5% of the cases. The mean serum iron levels were 204.6 mcg/dl (81-414 mcg/dl). No patient needed admission. This review revealed 100% of patients showed no significant toxic effects. We conclude that early recognition and prompt treatment of pediatric overdoses involving multiple vitamins with and without iron significantly reduces morbidity.