Management of Acute Ferrous Sulfate Poisoning Using Activated Charcoal Monotherapy: A Case Report

A 13-year-old schoolgirl presented to a public hospital having ingested over 70 tablets of 65 mg of prescription ferrous sulphate within the last hour. She complained of a 7/10 sharp abdominal pain. Signs included lethargy, agony, diaphoresis, and frequent eructation. Gastrointestinal movements were audible and frequent. Heart rate was at 50 beats per minute with intact but weak pulsations. Blood pressure was at 95/65 mmHg. During the clerking, she started vomiting in pouts separated by few-minute intervals. The vomitus was watery, yellowish, and had a rusty-ironic smell. Serum iron was at 200 mcg/dL and 230 mcg/dL at the time of admission to the hospital and the time of discharge, respectively. The patient received intravenous Ringer's lactate solution. She was detoxified by the chewing of a single dose of 100 g activated charcoal. She stayed in remission throughout the follow-up. It was concluded that monotherapy with oral activated charcoal arrests the progress of the toxicodrome.