Salicylate poisoning

Symptoms of serious poisoning are nonspecific but do form a toxidrome that should prompt immediate medical assessment. Therefore, those patients sent home for observation should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if they develop unexplained breathlessness, diaphoresis, tachycardia, ringing in the ears, deafness, agitation, fever, convulsions, and hallucinations.

Families with small children who accidentally ingest salicylates should be advised to keep medications out of sight and reach and in child-proof bottles from now on. Alternative nonsalicylate-containing medications should be recommended for older adults after discharge from the hospital, to minimize the risk of repeated excess ingestion. All patients should be cautioned that nonprescription medication can be dangerous if taken in excess, even topical medication. Athletes should be made aware that topical pain relief liniments should be applied in moderation.

Salicylates do not cause permanent end-organ damage. Survivors of salicylate poisoning of any severity or chronicity generally recover completely, there is no contraindication to future salicylate use, if clinically needed.