A case of fatal liver failure due to chronic environmental exposure of copper in a child

Abstract

Chronic liver damage followed by copper toxicity is very rare in pediatric population. This case report describes a 9-year-old child with acute liver failure as the presentation of copper toxicity due to chronic environmental exposure as a part of an occupational hazard. If not intervened in the early stage, the outcome is always lethal. Therefore, it is recommended to rule out heavy metal toxicity like copper as a cause of liver damage for any case of acute or chronic liver failure after ruling out the common infectious and inflammatory causes.

Keywords

• copper toxicity
• liver failure
• occupational hazard