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Mercury Poisoning
Medical Questions » Mercury Poisoning
| Name: Mercury Poisoning |
| Also known as: Minamata Disease; Pink Disease |
| Swallowing mercury or mercury-containing compounds or inhaling mercury vapor. |
Causes of Mercury Poisoning
Used in industry in thermometers, batteries, thermostats, dental fillings and chemical processing. Contamination of the food chain (particularly fish) may lead to poisoning in humans. It used to be present in medications such as teething powders until the 1950s. |
Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning
If a large amount of mercury is swallowed at one time symptoms include a metallic taste, thirst, burning in the throat, excessive saliva formation, belly pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, collapse and kidney failure.
Inhaling mercury vapor can cause an intractable form of pneumonia. Chronic mercury poisoning, in which small amounts of mercury are swallowed over a long period of time, causes ' pink disease' with red and swollen hands
and feet, irritability, fever, hair loss and damaged nails. |
Tests for Mercury Poisoning
Detected by specific blood tests. |
Treatment for Mercury Poisoning
If swallowed, induce vomiting, give egg whites and milk, then go to hospital for stomach wash out. Mercury can slowly be removed from the body by some medications.
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Complications of Mercury Poisoning of its treatment
Later problems include tremor, convulsions, brain damage and death. May cause birth defects in the children of mothers with chronic lead poisoning (Minamata disease). |
Likely Outcome of Mercury Poisoning
Depends on age, weight and health of patient, and dose of mercury. |
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