Mercury intoxication: lack of correlation between symptoms and levels.
The incidence of mercury intoxication has decreased considerably because of stricter public health regulations. However, it has not been completely eliminated and should be considered in a child with unexplained tachycardia, hypertension, mood changes, weight loss, and acrodynia. Mercury intoxication can be difficult to differentiate from pheochromocytoma and Kawasaki's disease. Here, the authors report the case of an 8-year-old boy with history of mercury exposure, signs and symptoms suggestive of mercury intoxication, and good response to chelation therapy, but with only mild increase in urinary mercury levels. This case highlights the fact that urinary mercury levels do not necessarily correlate with the severity of clinical signs and symptoms of mercury intoxication.
Gattineni
Jyothsna
J
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235-9063, USA.
Weiser
Susan
S
Becker
Amy M
AM
Baum
Michel
M
D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D004113:Succimer / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004113:Succimer