title: [Mercury poisoning caused by a homeopathic drug].
abstract: We report an infant with diaper dermatitis and mild respiratory and enteral infections, treated with a homeopathic mercurial medicine: Mercurius 6a (cinnabar dilute 1 x 10(6)), who thereafter became seriously ill with exacerbation and dissemination of the dermatitis as well as irritability and albuminuria. Mercury urine levels were 60 micrograms/L (reference less than 10 micrograms/L). The homeopathic medicine was suspended but symptoms persisted. Therefore the chelating agent D-penicillamine was administered per os (50 mg/kg/day during 10 days). The clinical conditions improved and urinary levels of mercury decreased to normal values. We concluded that homeopathic medicaments should be recognised as potentially harmful substances.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Istituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Montoya-Cabrera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubio-Rodríguez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velázquez-Gonzalez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avila Montoya
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; D010396:Penicillamine; C034211:cinnabar
vernacular_title: Intoxicación mercurial causada por un medicamento homeopático.