Parameters:
(1) material ingested (pill, capsule, liquid, etc.)
(2) amount or number
(3) content of each unit amount (per pill, ounce, gram, etc.)
(4) body weight of patient
(5) if known, toxic dose for substance (reported in mg per kg body weight)
total dose ingested =
= (amount or number of material ingested) * (content for each unit)
total dose ingested in mg per kg body weight =
= (total dose ingested in mg) / (body weight in kilograms)
If the dose ingested in mg per kg body weight is greater than or equal to the toxic dose, then the patient is at risk for toxicity. A person with a lower dose may be at risk if there is an organ failure that interferes with elimination.
Limitations:
• Some ingestions are associated with significant uncertainty as to just what and how much has been ingested.
