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b) Iron supplements.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), 22 out of 98 poisoning deaths of children under six reported between 1990 and 1992 were due to iron poisoning. These were mainly ingestions of tablets intended to treat prenatal iron deficiency in adults. Children's multivitamin tablets, on the other hand, typically contain so little iron that even eating dozens would not be fatal. However, children should be taught that even candy-like children'svitamin supplements are medicine, and not candy.

By the way, medications are involved in the most accidental poisonings, followed by houshold cleaning products, personal care products (toothpase, cologne, etc.) and plants.

Source: Tenebein, M. & Rodgers, G.C. (1994) The four A's of decreasing the toll of childhood iron poisoning deaths. Archive of Family Medicine 3, 754-5

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Updated on 20 Apr 2005

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