clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Four phases may be recognised:
- development of severe gastrointestinal symptoms - epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and haematemesis - within hours of ingestion
- apparent recovery - of up to 24 hours
- acute iron encephalopathy - with headache, confusion, convulsions and coma - and circulatory collapse
- acute hepatic failure - up to three days later
In survivors, there may be hepatic necrosis, which may lead to hepatic coma and death, or late-onset pyloric stenosis.