Mercury thermometers, still toxic, still present
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23938/ASSN.0110Keywords:
Mercurio. Termómetro. Toxicidad. Tejido subcutáneo.Abstract
Mercury thermometers are and have been, despite being banned to be manufactured, one of the main sources of exposure in pediatric age to elementary mercury (Hg) in our environment. The toxicity produced by elementary Hg depends on the exposure channel and its length. Exposure through digestive tract produces hardly any toxicity but subcutaneous or intravenous inoculation and inhalation of mercury may produce damages on a local or system level. We present the case of a child who showed inoculation of liquid mercury in subcutaneous tissue after a liquid-in-glass thermometer broke. This provoked damages on a local level with steatonecrosis of the tissue. The diagnosis was decided through a radiologic test and required urgent surgery with skin and subcutaneous tissue split, guided by radioscopy. Any spread on a system level was discarded. The levels of mercury in the bloodstream and in the urine were regular.Downloads
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