Iron Excess and Symptoms

Excess iron in the body, often referred to as iron poisoning, can be caused by several things, including numerous blood transfusions, overdose of supplemental iron or a rare gene that promotes iron absorption. The National Institutes of Health explains that iron excess can easily happen. Since little iron is expelled from the body in urine it can build up in body tissues. Iron toxicity can cause severe damage, so it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms, which occur in stages.

Stage I Iron Poisoning

Stage I iron poisoning can happen within six hours of the body reaching iron overload. According to the Merck Manual Online Medical Library, the first symptoms of excess iron in the body show up in the digestive tract. These symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting, both of which may also contain blood. These symptoms are more severe if you have an empty stomach, as there is nothing in the digestive tract to slow its absorption. Other Stage I symptoms are lethargy, drowsiness, irritability, seizures, low blood pressure and possible coma. If you are ingesting too much iron and have not had a sudden intake or overdose, your symptoms will probably go no further than digestive issues.

Stage II

If you or someone you know have had any of the above symptoms, you should have sought medical attention before getting to Stage II iron poisoning symptoms. One of the characteristics of mid-stage poisoning is that the sufferer will begin to feel better and appear to be getting over the symptoms. A report on iron poisoning from the University of New Mexico states that this latent stage usually occurs between six and 24 hours after excess iron levels have been reached. At this point, if the iron excess was somewhat mild, then many patients move on to recovery. However, if toxicity is at severe levels, organ damage may have begun and the iron poisoning symptoms move on to Stage III symptoms.

Stage III

Stage III symptoms typically begin 12 to 48 hours after excess iron ingestion, according to the Poison Control Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Again, these symptoms most often occur if you have had a sudden high dose of excess iron, rather than a buildup of dietary iron. After the period of latency in Stage II, symptoms return upon the patient with the onset of vomiting blood, fever, jaundice, which is indicative of liver failure, low blood sugar, seizures and low blood pressure, which can send the patient into shock. Stage III symptoms of iron poisoning are serious, indicating that organ failure has begun.

Stage IV

In Stage IV the patient is most likely in the hospital under observation, but is still in danger of organ failure. Stage IV symptoms set in between 48 hours and five days after iron overload has been reached. At this point complete liver failure may occur. The patient may experience mental confusion, which may be due to a buildup of fluid on the brain, sluggishness and lethargy. When death occurs in Stage IV it is often the result of liver failure, shock, internal bleeding or problems with blood clotting. (Some physicians consider Stage IV symptoms to be part of Stage III symptoms.)

Stage V

The patient that has experienced iron poisoning may never reach Stage V. This stage occurs 2 to 4 weeks after the initial poisoning symptoms and involves scarring of the intestinal tract and a possible intestinal blockage, which can cause abdominal pain and cramping. Because of the liver damage that has occurred, one may also develop cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver at some point in the future.