Which is a treatment option for a child with aspirin overdose?

In cases of aspirin overdose, activated charcoal and gastric lavage are effective treatment options. Activated charcoal helps to adsorb the ingested aspirin within the gastrointestinal tract, minimizing its systemic absorption and thereby reducing the overall toxicity. Gastric lavage can be utilized in scenarios where the ingestion has occurred relatively recently, usually within an hour or two, to remove the unabsorbed drug from the stomach.

This approach is pivotal because aspirin is a salicylate that can lead to significant metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis due to its effects on the central nervous system and its metabolic breakdown products. By employing activated charcoal and potentially gastric lavage, the goal is to reduce the amount of aspirin that enters systemic circulation, thereby decreasing the risk of serious complications.

Supportive care through hydration and electrolyte management (fluids and electrolytes) is also essential but is considered a separate therapeutic measure aimed at managing the resulting metabolic disturbances rather than directly addressing the toxic effects of the aspirin. Other options such as intravenous glucagon and antihistamines are not standard treatments for aspirin overdose, as they do not target the mechanism of toxicity associated with salicylate poisoning.