Show MEDICALLY SPEAKING By Dr Vr David Evans Vernal Family Gamily Health Center Aspirin overdose is highest in In poisonings I found my little girl in the medicine cabinet today She hadn't opened the aspirin bottle but what if she could have gotten the cap off oll What would I have had to do if she had Ingested a lot of aspirin T T. n. n Jensen Aspirin is consistently Involved involved involved in In- in more accidental poisonings in children under underage underage underage age five live than any other single drug or household product The limitation of 36 childrens children's aspirin to a bottle and the use of childproof caps are positive steps taken to prevent accidental accidental accidental ac ac- ac- ac aspirin poisoning In spite of such measures fatalities still continue to occur each year ASPIRIN intoxication may be mild or serious The mild form formis is called and usually develops in adults only after repeated administration of large doses and it occurs in young children as a result of or therapeutic Symptoms include dizziness ringing of the ears difficulty in hearing nausea vomiting diarrhea mental confusion and sleepiness Emergency management of mild aspirin poisoning is designed to delay absorption of the drug and to remove it from the stomach If the person is conscious and able to swallow the first thing to do dois dois dois is to give one or two glasses of milk or water which will dilute the drug delay emptying time from the stomach and slow down absorption Because aspirin is absorbed rapidly from the stomach emptying of the stomach at home or to the hospital is advised Syrup of Ipecac is the method of choice cholet recommended recommended recommended mended by the Intermountain Poison Polson Control Center In Salt Lake City It can be purchased very Inexpensively In an ounce bottle at any pharmacy The usual dose for children is one tablespoon I Ih ounce and in adults the dose is 2 tablespoons 1 ounce followed by a large glass of water or milk If vomiting doesn't occur in 20 15 minutes a second identical dose should be given SERIOUS aspirin poisoning is characterized by all of the symptoms of mild toxicity plus disturbances in the central nervous system Such disturbances disturbances disturbances bances include hyperventilation rapid breathing incoherent speech irritability restlessness convulsions and coma This requires more medical management than cases of mild poisoning and the person should be admitted to a hospital for the proper management If it is suspected that a person is suffering from aspirin poisoning the best approach to helping the person would be to call the Intermountain Poison Control Center in Salt Lake City at this toll-free toll number 1 This is a 24 hour service service service ser ser- vice center with an experienced staff that will be able to give the best suggestions and directions for managing the poisoned person Dr Evans will answer questions of general interest through this column If you have any questions or comments comments comments com com- ments please send them to the Vernal Express |