Fluoride Toxicity Clinical Presentation
- Author: Geofrey Nochimson, MD; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD more...
History
Determine the exact nature and time of exposure or ingestion.
Query patient, bystanders, paramedics, and family members regarding specifics of exposure or ingestion.
Physical
- Gastrointestinal signs predominate
- Hypersalivation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Dysphagia
- Mucosal injury
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Neurologic effects
- Headache
- Tremors
- Muscular spasm
- Tetanic contractions
- Hyperactive reflexes
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness
- Cardiovascular
- Widening of QRS
- Various arrhythmias
- Shock
- Cardiac arrest
Causes
The most common type of exposure is ingestion of products that contain fluoride. To obtain the exact name of the product and how much was ingested is extremely important.
Toothpaste contains 1 mg/g of fluoride as sodium monofluorophosphate. This fluoride formulation has low solubility and is generally nontoxic.
The toxic effects following large ingestions of the following products usually are limited to GI discomfort.
- Toothpaste
- Oral hygiene products
- Insecticide
- Rodenticide
- Dietary supplements
- Automobile wheel-cleaning products
- Glass-etching products
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