Mercury Toxicity: A Family Case Report

Abstract

Background: Increased levels of environmental pollution have exposed mankind to foreign matters. In this article, five individuals within the age range of 20 and 54 from the same family, who were poisoned from liquid form mercury, are presented. Case Report: The first case presented to our clinic with cough, fever, night sweat.The patient with clinical findings of neutropenia, anemia and pneumonia who rapidly developed ARDS and died on the fourth day of hospitalization. Her WBC count: 0.4 (4,3 - 10,3 x 10³ / mm³), Hb: 10.8 (11.5-16.0) g/dL. The second case, presented with bicytopenia 1.3 (4,3 - 10,3 x 10³ / mm³), PLT: 88 x 10³(150– 400 x10³ /mm³). Toxic peripheral neuropathy was identified in both second and third cases. PLT count of third case was 123 x 10³ (150– 400 x10³ /ml). The fourth and fifth cases, presented with fatigue and headache. There were no positive findings in these two patients apart from high levels of mercury in the blood. Conclusion: With this case presentation involving a family, we describe clinical presentations of varying degrees among individual members of the same family, who were exposed to liquid form mercury through contact and inhalation. We believe that heavy metal exposure should be considered in patients presenting with various symptoms involving several systems including the cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological systems, although heavy metal exposure is rare. Our case differs from others since it involves a family.

Keywords

• mercury intoxication
• family