Question

Your patient is a 3-year-old female who has taken an unknown quantity of aspirin. She is conscious and alert. Which of the following orders is likely to be given by medical control?

A. Administer activated charcoal.
B. Administer one to two glasses of milk.
C. Administer syrup of ipecac.
D. Induce vomiting by placing your finger in the child's throat.

Answer 1

For a child who has ingested an unknown quantity of aspirin, medical control is likely to recommend administering activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of the aspirin into the bloodstream. Typical methods such as inducing vomiting are not seen as safe or effective.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient in question is a 3-year-old female who has ingested an unknown quantity of aspirin. When dealing with potential poisoning in children, medical control is likely to give specific instructions based on the substance ingested and the symptoms presented by the patient. In the case of aspirin ingestion, activated charcoal may be administered to prevent further absorption of the aspirin from the gastrointestinal tract. This treatment binds to the aspirin, preventing it from entering the bloodstream.

Administering milk is not a recommended treatment in cases of aspirin overdose as it does not bind the aspirin. Similarly, syrup of ipecac is no longer commonly recommended due to potential for causing harm and lack of evidence for effectiveness. Inducing vomiting, either by ipecac syrup or by placing a finger in the throat, is not considered a safe or effective treatment in such scenarios. Instead, modern medical guidelines prioritize stabilizing the patient and using methods such as activated charcoal to limit additional toxin absorption.