TM, aged two years, is diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia after a routine visit with her mother to the doctor. In reviewing what the child eats, the doctor finds that her diet is severely lacking...

TM, aged two years, is diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia after a routine visit with her mother to the doctor. In reviewing what the child eats, the doctor finds that her diet is severely lacking in red meat and fresh green vegetables. The doctor asks the mother to ensure that TM has at least one to two serves of meat and green vegetables every day. He also places TM on a course of ferrous gluconate oral liquid for one month. TM is to return after the month for a check on her serum iron levels.

Questions

1 Explain how the ferrous gluconate oral liquid should be administered to TM to prevent discolouration of teeth.

2 How should the ferrous gluconate oral liquid be administered in relation to food?

3 Why does the doctor want to wait a month before assessing the effectiveness of therapy?

4 If an excessive amount of ferrous gluconate oral liquid is accidentally administered to TM, what medicine could be used as an antidote?