Acute Mercury Poisoning in a Group of School Children.
Pediatr Emerg Care
; 35(10): 696-699, 2019 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27977534
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Elemental mercury is a toxic liquid element that is used widely in the home, medicine, agriculture, and industry. It is readily vaporized and inhaled at room temperature. Thereby, inhalation can cause acute or chronic poisoning. Mercury can be found in environmental naturally find but some dangers sources give rise to contaminations. It can be very dangerous to all living organisms, especially children.METHODS:
This study presents the features of mercury poisoning in a group of pediatric cases. Data were obtained for 29 pediatric cases exposed to elemental mercury in a high school chemistry laboratory in Turkey. Patients with a blood mercury level exceeding 10 µg/L or a urine mercury level exceeding 15 µg/L were considered to have mercury poisoning. The patients were treated with 2,3-dimercaptopropane sulfonic acid or D-penicillamine.RESULTS:
Twenty-nine children with mercury poisoning were admitted to the hospital. The median duration of exposure was 58 (range, 15-120) minutes. Ten (29%) children were asymptomatic. Physical and neurological examinations were normal in 19 (65.5%) children. The most common presenting complaint was headache. The most common neurological abnormality, partly dilated/dilated pupils, was present in 9 (31%) children. Mercury levels were measured in blood samples every 5 days, and the median blood mercury level was 51.98 (range, 24.9-86.4) µg/L. There was a positive correlation between the duration of exposure and maximum blood/urine mercury levels (P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:
Elemental mercury exposure is potentially toxic; its symptomatology varies, especially in children. Secure storage of mercury and other toxic substances and provision of information about this subject to individuals who might be exposed to mercury and their families might help to prevent mercury poisoning.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Instituciones Académicas
/
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales
/
Mercurio
/
Intoxicación por Mercurio
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pediatr Emerg Care
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
/
PEDIATRIA
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article