What are the symptoms and consequences of mercury poisoning?

Mercury is a white liquid that will evaporate at will under normal temperature. It will enter the human body through the respiratory tract and cause great harm to human health. Mercury poisoning is relatively dangerous. The general symptoms of mercury poisoning include fainting, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. The consequences of mercury poisoning on the human body are relatively serious and can easily lead to death.

Mercury Poisoning Symptoms

1. Acute mercury poisoning

(1) Systemic symptoms include metallic taste in the mouth, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, body aches, chills, fever (38-39°C), and in severe cases, emotional agitation, irritability, insomnia, and even convulsions, coma, or mental disorder.

(2) Respiratory manifestations include cough, sputum, chest pain, dyspnea, cyanosis, and dry or wet rales or weakened breath sounds that may be heard in both lungs on auscultation.

(3) Gastrointestinal manifestations include swollen and painful gums, erosion, bleeding, oral mucosal ulcers, loose teeth, drooling, "mercury lines", lip and cheek mucosal ulcers, abnormal liver function and liver enlargement. Oral poisoning may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucus or bloody stools. In severe cases, gastrointestinal perforation may lead to generalized peritonitis, shock may occur due to dehydration, and liver damage may occur in some cases.

(4) Toxic nephropathy is caused by necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. Generally, oral administration of mercury salts for several hours or inhalation of high concentrations of mercury vapor for 2 to 3 days will cause edema, anuria, azotemia, hyperkalemia, acidosis, uremia, etc., until acute renal failure and life-threatening. People who are allergic to mercury may experience hematuria, eosinophilia, and systemic allergic symptoms. Some patients may develop acute glomerulonephritis, and severe cases may have hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, and acute renal failure (ARF).

(5) Skin manifestations usually appear 2 to 3 days after poisoning and are red maculopapular rashes. Early on, it appears on the limbs, head and face, and then spreads throughout the body, where it may fuse into flakes or ulcers, and become infected and accompanied by swollen lymph nodes throughout the body. In severe cases, exfoliative dermatitis may occur.

2. Subacute mercury poisoning

It is common in cases of oral administration, application of mercury-containing folk remedies, and inhalation of mercury vapor concentrations that are not very high (0.5-1.0 mg/m3), and the disease usually occurs 1 to 4 weeks after exposure to mercury. The clinical manifestations are similar to those of acute mercury poisoning, but to a lesser degree. However, symptoms such as hair loss, insomnia, nightmares, and three tremors (eyelids, tongue, and fingers) may be seen. It can usually be cured after discontinuation and treatment for a few weeks.

3. Chronic mercury poisoning

(1) Neuropsychiatric symptoms include dizziness, headache, insomnia, frequent dreams, forgetfulness, fatigue, lack of appetite and other manifestations of mental weakness, frequent palpitations, sweating, positive skin scratch test, decreased libido, menstrual disorders (female), and then mood and personality changes, such as irritability, moodiness, irritability, crying, timidity, shyness, depression, withdrawal, suspicion, inattention, and even hallucinations, delusions and other mental symptoms.

(2) In the early stages of stomatitis, the gums will be swollen, sore, and easily bleed; the oral mucosa will be ulcerated; the salivary glands will be swollen, the saliva will be increased, and there will be bad breath. This will be followed by gum atrophy, loose teeth, and tooth loss. Those with poor oral hygiene may have a "mercury line" (a blue-black line about 1 mm long formed by the mercury secreted by the salivary glands combining with hydrogen sulfide produced by the decay of oral debris to form mercury sulfide that is deposited under the gingival mucosa).

(3) Tremor initially occurs when the hands tremble while threading a needle, writing, or holding chopsticks. The direction is inaccurate and the tremor is intentional. It gradually spreads to the limbs, affecting the patient's eating, dressing, walking, riding a bicycle, and climbing. The patient has difficulty in pronunciation and articulation. The tremor is relatively alleviated when the patient is engaged in habitual work or is not being noticed. Electromyography may show peripheral nerve damage.

(4) Renal manifestations are generally not obvious. A few may experience low back pain, proteinuria, and red blood cells may be seen under urine microscopy. Clinical cases of tubular nephritis, glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndrome are rare. Generally, recovery can be achieved after removal of mercury and treatment. Some patients may have enlarged liver and abnormal liver function.

Consequences of Mercury Poisoning

Acute mercury poisoning is caused by inhaling too much mercury at one time. Patients with acute mercury poisoning will experience abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools, etc. If the situation is serious, it may also lead to renal failure, so you must pay attention to it in normal times.