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Abstract
IntroductionMercury intoxication may present in a wide range of clinical forms from a simple disease to fatal poisoning. This article presents a case of acute mercury poisoning, a rare condition that presents challenges for diagnosis with fever of unknown origin.Case presentationA 52-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to the hospital with high fever, sore throat, a rash over her entire body, itching, nausea, and extensive muscle pain. She had cervical, bilateral axillary and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. We learned that her son and husband had similar symptoms. After excluding infectious pathologies, autoimmune diseases and malignancy were investigated. Multiple organs of our patient were involved and her fever persisted at the fourth week of admission. A repeat medical history elicited that her son had brought mercury home from school and put it on the hot stove, and the family had been exposed to the fumes for a long period of time. Our patient’s serum and urine mercury levels were high. She was diagnosed with mercury poisoning and treated accordingly.ConclusionsMercury vapor is a colourless and odorless substance. Therefore, patients with various unexplained symptoms and clinical conditions should be questioned about possible exposure to mercury.
Highlights
Mercury intoxication may present in a wide range of clinical forms from a simple disease to fatal poisoning
Metal fume fever, which may occur after inhaling the metal fumes, is a poorly understood influenza-like reaction [2]
The initial phase manifests itself as metal fume fever, the intermediate phase can be defined as the period during which severe, multiorgan symptoms of the central nervous, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal and urological systems are reported, and the late phase can be described as the period when the central nervous symptoms persist and other organ system complaints are resolved
Summary
Environmental release of elemental mercury that results in human exposure can occur in many different locations such as schools, universities, homes, healthcare facilities, public utilities and manufacturing facilities. It is rarely seen, patients should be questioned about being exposed to mercury or other metals when a case of fever of unknown origin is encountered. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for publication of this manuscript and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal
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