ymptoms in children. Never give more than the amount prescribed, even if you have accidentally missed a dose.
Iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning deaths in young children. Even though our bodies need a certain amount of iron, excess iron can kill—especially when small children swallow iron supplements intended for use by adults. To keep your child safe, put the supplements on the highest shelf of your cabinet, preferably in a locked cupboard. The supplement should also be in a marked container with a child-resistant lid.
If you think that your child may have taken an overdose of iron supplements or other multivitamins that contain iron, immediately contact the Poison Control Center, the doctor, or the nearest hospital’s emergency department.
American Academy of Pediatrics
United States Department of Agriculture
About Kids Health
Anemia—differential diagnosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/. Updated September 8, 2011. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Canadian Paediatric Society. Iron needs of babies and children. Paediatr Child Health. 2007 April;12(4):333-334. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528681/. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Chantry CJ, Howard CR, Auinger P. Full breastfeeding duration and risk for iron deficiency in U.S. infants. Breastfeed. 2007;2(2):63-73.
Diagnosis and prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children (0-3 years of age). Pediatrics. 2010 November 1;126(5):1040-1050. Available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/5/1040.full.html. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Human nutrition: iron. Ohio State University website. Available at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5559.html. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Iron. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/natural-alternative-treatments. Updated August 2013. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Iron. Office of Dietary Supplements website. Available at: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/. Updated August 24, 2007. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Iron and iron deficiency. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/vitamins/iron.html . Updated February 23, 2011. Accessed January 30, 2014
Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr4703.pdf. Published April 3, 1998. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Screening tests for infants. Lab Tests Online website. Available at: http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/wellness/ab-infant-1/ab-infant-2/. Updated November 18, 2013. Accessed January 30, 2014.
What are the signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ida/signs.html. Updated April 1, 2011. Accessed January 30, 2014.
10/12/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Baker R, Greer F, the Committee on Nutrition. Clinical report—diagnosis and prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children (0-3 years of age). American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-2576v1. Published October 5, 2010. Accessed January 30, 2014.
Last reviewed January 2014 by Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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