What Should I Do If My Three-Year-Old Accidentally Consumed 20 Calcium Tablets at Once?

Measures to Take When a Three-Year-Old Ingests 20 Calcium Tablets

In the event that a three-year-old child accidentally ingests 20 calcium tablets, various measures such as inducing vomiting, careful observation, gastric lavage, increased water intake, and medication should be taken, depending on the specific situation. Details are as follows:

1. Inducing Vomiting

If the ingestion just occurred, parents can attempt to induce vomiting using a tongue depressor to stimulate the child's pharyngeal wall or tongue root, triggering the vomiting reflex. This may help expel the unabsorbed tablets, reducing the drug's absorption.

2. Careful Observation

If the ingestion occurred some time ago and the child is currently asymptomatic, parents should closely monitor the child's mental state and any other changes. In case of abnormalities, immediate medical attention is necessary.

3. Gastric Lavage

If the child exhibits symptoms like nausea or vomiting, they should be taken to the hospital promptly for gastric lavage to remove any remaining medication from the stomach.

4. Increased Water Intake

Encourage the child to drink plenty of water to promote urination and facilitate the metabolism of the drug within the body.

5. Medication

Overconsumption of calcium tablets can lead to the formation of stones. Under a doctor's guidance, medications like sodium bicarbonate tablets, soda tablets, or hydrochlorothiazide can be administered to prevent this complication.

Additionally, other treatments like intravenous infusion may be necessary. Parents should always supervise their children closely and seek immediate medical attention in case of accidental drug ingestion.