Accidental death from acute selenium poisoning.
We report a fatal case of acute selenium poisoning in a 75-year-old man. After reading on the Internet about a possible role of selenium in prostate cancer, the patient ingested 10 g of sodium selenite. Despite intensive care treatment, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died 6 hours after ingestion. This case illustrates the risks of failing to critically evaluate Internet information and exposes the myth that natural therapies are inherently safe.
See
Katharine A
KA
St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. see_ka@hotmail.com
Lavercombe
Peter S
PS
Dillon
Jasmine
J
Ginsberg
Riesa
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012643:Selenium / Q000506:poisoning*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000506:poisoning*
D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium