Calcium gluconate is indicated for which situation?

Calcium gluconate is indicated for which situation?

• A. Calcium deficiency
• B. Fluoride poisoning with cardiac disturbance
• C. Boron exposure
• D. Water intoxication

Answer: (B)

Calcium gluconate is used in fluoride poisoning with cardiac disturbances because fluoride ions bind calcium in the body, reducing free calcium and causing impaired cardiac conduction and other symptoms. Administering calcium gluconate supplies calcium ions, which helps neutralize fluoride’s effects, forms calcium fluoride, and stabilizes cardiac membranes, relieving the dangerous arrhythmias and hypocalcemia that can occur. The other scenarios listed do not involve acute fluoride toxicity, so this is the specific situation where calcium gluconate is indicated. While calcium supplements can treat true calcium deficiency, that’s a different context from fluoride poisoning.

Calcium gluconate is used in fluoride poisoning with cardiac disturbances because fluoride ions bind calcium in the body, reducing free calcium and causing impaired cardiac conduction and other symptoms. Administering calcium gluconate supplies calcium ions, which helps neutralize fluoride’s effects, forms calcium fluoride, and stabilizes cardiac membranes, relieving the dangerous arrhythmias and hypocalcemia that can occur. The other scenarios listed do not involve acute fluoride toxicity, so this is the specific situation where calcium gluconate is indicated. While calcium supplements can treat true calcium deficiency, that’s a different context from fluoride poisoning.