Question

A child who has overdosed on iron tablets comes with nausea and abdominal pain. What is the antidote for this toxicity?

• A. EDTA
• B. Deferoxamine
• C. British anti-Lewisite
• D. Penicillamine

Hint:

When treating iron toxicity, always consider deferoxamine as the first line of treatment. It is highly effective and widely used in clinical settings.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Iron overdose can be life-threatening in children, and the primary antidote used is Deferoxamine, which is a chelating agent that binds to iron and facilitates its excretion. The other agents listed (EDTA, British anti-Lewisite, Penicillamine) are not effective for iron toxicity. Deferoxamine works by forming a complex with iron, which is then excreted by the kidneys. Thus, the correct answer is Deferoxamine (2).