Differential Diagnosis of Salicylate Intoxication and Diabetic Acidosis

Abstract

AS increasing numbers of potent pharmacologic agents become available for general use, the chance of accidentally induced toxicity increases. Despite the tremendous volume consumed in the United States (over 9,000,000 pounds a year) the relative number of deaths is small.^{1 2 3} Nevertheless, owing to the volume of usage, the acute toxicity through accidental overdosage is occasionally noted on the medical wards as a serious disease that may be fatal. The clinical and laboratory abnormalities that occur are quite similar in many respects to those of diabetic acidosis.Quincke noted in 1882⁴ that the salicylate dyspnea was similar to that seen in . . .