Accidental inorganic mercury chloride poisoning in a 2-year old child

Indian J Pediatr. 2010 Oct;77(10):1153-5. doi: 10.1007/s12098-010-0143-9. Epub 2010 Aug 19.

Abstract

Inorganic mercury poisoning is uncommon, but when it occurs it can result in severe, life threatening features and acute renal failure. A 2-year old well thriving child presented with alleged history of accidental ingestion of inorganic mercury chloride. He presented with evidence of corrosive trauma to the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, but with normal renal function at admission, which was managed with BAL and other supportive treatment. But he developed non-oliguric renal failure after admission, which also improved gradually. On follow-up, two months later, the patient's renal function was normal; indicating that renal failure caused by acute inorganic mercury poisoning produced no permanent renal damage. We have hereby presented a case of mercury intoxication in a 2-year old child, with an excellent clinical improvement and normalization of laboratory results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chelating Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dimercaprol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mercuric Chloride / poisoning*
  • Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Renal Insufficiency / chemically induced

Substances

  • Chelating Agents
  • Dimercaprol
  • Mercuric Chloride