Final answer:
Acute aspirin poisoning leads to metabolic acidosis, with symptoms including high fever, nausea, vomiting, hyperventilation, and confusion, which can escalate to gastrointestinal hemorrhage and organ failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute aspirin poisoning, also known as aspirin overdose, can present in various ways depending on the severity and the time frame of ingestion. The active form of aspirin, sulfasalicylic acid, causes metabolic acidosis due to its acidity when overdosed.
Symptoms of acute aspirin poisoning may include high fever, headache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), nausea and vomiting, hyperventilation, and confusion, which arise from the body's acid-base imbalance.
As the condition progresses, more severe symptoms may include dehydration, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and even organ systems failure, such as renal (kidney) or hepatic (liver) failure. It is critical for someone with suspected aspirin poisoning to seek medical attention immediately, as the consequences can be life-threatening.
Taking aspirin during a viral infection is also associated with Reye's syndrome, which can cause fatal brain swelling and has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require warnings about this syndrome on aspirin-containing products.