Poisoning causes, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed in 92 in-patients with
mercury poisoning in our hospital from January 2000 to April 2010.
RESULTS: Of the 92 patients, 37 were male and 55 were female with an average age of 33.1 (2 - 65) years old. The
mercury poisoning was caused by occupational exposure and non-occupational exposure, such as iatrogenic exposure, life exposure and wrong intake or suicidal intake of
mercury-containing substances, mainly through respiratory tract, digestive tract and skin absorption. The most common clinical symptoms were as the followings: nervous system symptom, such as
memory loss in 50 cases (54.3%),
fatigue in 34 (37.0%), numb limb in 25 (27.2%),
dizziness and
headache in 22 (23.9%), cacesthesia in 20 (21.7%),
fine tremor (finger tip, tongue tip, eyelids) in 15 (16.3%),
insomnia and more dreams in 12 (13.0%); gastrointestinal symptoms:
nausea in 16 (17.4%),
abdominal pain in 14 (15.2%),
stomatitis in 5 (5.4%); joint and muscle symptoms:
muscle pain in 16 (17.4%),
joint pain in 5 (5.4%); cardiovascular system: chest tightness, heart palpitations in 6 (6.5%); urinary system:
edema in 9 (9.8%); other system: hidrosis in 20 (21.7%). After the treatment with
sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (
DMPS), the symptoms were gradually alleviated. Their gastrointestinal, cardiovascular symptoms were alleviated within 2 weeks; neurological symptoms were alleviated within 3 months; kidney damage showed a slower recovery and could be completely alleviated within 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Because of its diverse clinical symptoms, the
mercury poisoning was easy to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis; therefore the awareness of the disease should be further enhanced. Leaving from the
poisoning environment timely and giving appropriate treatment with
DMPS will lead to a satisfactory prognosis.