Salicylate poisoning

Symptoms of serious poisoning are non-specific but do form a toxidrome that should prompt immediate medical assessment. Therefore, advise patients sent home for observation to seek immediate medical attention if they develop unexplained breathlessness, sweating, tachycardia, ringing in the ears, deafness, agitation, fever, convulsions, and confusion.

Advise families with small children who have accidentally ingested salicylates to keep medications out of sight and reach, and in child-proof bottles. Consider recommending complementary non-salicylate-containing medications to older adults after hospital discharge, to minimise the risk of repeated excess ingestion.

Caution all patients that non-prescription medication can be dangerous if taken in excess, even topical medication. Make athletes aware that topical pain relief liniments should be applied in moderation.