A two-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department 40 minutes after her mother saw her swallow an unkn…

Question

A two-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department 40 minutes after her mother saw her swallow an unknown number of the grandmother's paracetamol tablets. She is well and her observations are normal. The account is consistent, fits what a two-year-old can do, and the family drove straight in with the bottle. The mother is crying, says repeatedly that she is a terrible parent for leaving the room, and asks whether she is going to be reported. Which one of the following is the most appropr…

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge that this is common and proceed to assess her daughter

Answer

Advise that every childhood ingestion must be notified to child protection

Answer

Ask her to complete a home safety questionnaire before assessment

Answer

Reassure her that paracetamol is harmless in the amounts children swallow

Answer

Tell her the social worker will review her supervision of the child

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