[Contact dermatitis to elemental mercury with distant lesion].
A clinical case of contact dermatitis following direct skin contact with elemental mercury is presented. Patient had metal mercury in contact with extensive part of his leg and foot skin resulting in erythematous, edematous, and vesicular dermatitis. Lesions evolved to erythematous plaques with small scattered areas of necrosis and drying vesicle lesions. Distant lesions appeared in the right forearm, chest and abdomen. Urinary mercury 36h after contact was 5.9 microg/L, and one week later 19.6 microg/L, indicating dermal absorption. dermal absorption. Dermal effects due to elemental mercury must be expected after direct skin contact.
Centro de Controle de Intoxicações, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. capitani@fcm.unicamp.br
Eduardo Mello
EM
De Capitani
Elemir Macedo de
EM
Souza
Ronan José
RJ
Vieira
Paulo Roberto
PR
Madureira
D000293:Adolescent; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects*
D008628:Mercury