Pink disease

On significant inhalation of metallic mercury vapors, some people (primarily children) exhibit a syndrome known as acrodynia, or pink disease. Symptoms include severe leg cramps, irritability, erythema, and subsequent peeling of the hands, nose, and soles of the feet. ... 

Mercury compounds are generally less toxic than mercury(II) compounds because of then-lower solubilities. Calomel, a preparation containing Hg2Cl2, was once widely used in medicine. Its use as a teething powder for children has been known to cause a hypersensitivity response in children called pink disease, manifested by a pink rash and swelling of the spleen and lymph nodes. 

Ward OC, Hingerty D. Pink Disease from cutaneous absorption of mercury. J Ir Med Assoc 1967 60(357) 94-5. 

Acrodynia, or Pink disease, discussed above, was common among infants in the UK and USA until the late 1940s when it became evident that the condition was caused by exposure to calomel in teething powders and in antihelmintic preparations. An allergic reaction towards mercury with variable susceptibihty is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of Pink disease because the syndrome develops in only a small proportion of all exposed (less than 1%) [65]. Furthermore, only infants and small children are affected. 

Pink disease in children may be accompanied by a nephrotic syndrome [114]. Two sisters developed severe proteinuria four days apart a few weeks after that their parents had spilled metallic mercury in the bedroom. The younger girl had typical red-colored palms. 

Psychiatric symptoms, tachycardia, hematological changes, enlargement of thyroid, metallic taste, salivation, intense thirst, fetid breath, conjunctivitis, cardiovascular collapse with dehydration, fever, death acrodynia or pink disease (infants/children) mental disturbances, insomnia, sweating, extremity sensations/pain, peripheral vascular disorders, photophobia, anorexia, weakness, fever, tachycardia, red/swollen/cold/peeling hands and feet, stomatitis, gingivitis, loss of teeth/hair, constipation, tremor, weakness, death... 

Mercurous (Hg ) salts of mercury are less corrosive and toxic, possibly because they are also less soluble. Calomel (HgCl) has been used in medicine for many years and more recently (in the 1940s and 1950s) as a "teething powder". It is known to be responsible for acrodynia or "pink disease". This was probably a hypersensitivity response to mercury salts on the skin. Affected children developed a pink rash and fever, with swelling of fingers, soles, spleen and lymph nodes and thickened skin. Irritability and insomnia were also, not surprisingly, a feature of the disease. 

Spartcide . [Mitsubishi Kasei] 2-3-Dkhloro-N-4-fluoro dienylinaleimide fimgicide for sq>ple fruit s melanose and scab of dtnis, coffee berry disease, pink disease on rubber. 

Mercury has also been implicated in the etiology of acrodynia (pink disease) in children when mercury-containing teething powder was used. The methyl mercury contained in fungicides has been responsible for toxicity in children in Iraq. This toxicity is characterized by phalangeal erythema, muscular weakness, ataxia, hyperirritability, sensory impairment, visual disturbances, involuntary movement, and sometimes unconsciousness. 

Dietz R, Riget E and Born EW (2000) Geographical differences of zinc, cadmium, mercury and selenium in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Greenland. Sci Total Environ 245 25-47. Dineheart SM, Diliard R, Raimer SS, Diven S, CoBOS R and Pupo R (1988) Gutaneous manifestations of acrodynia (pink disease). Arch Dermatol 124 107-109. 

Muhlendahl von KE (1991) Acrodynia (pink disease, FeeFs disease). Monatsschr Kinderheilk 139 224-227. 

Acrodynia, a rare Idiosyncratic reaction to chronic mercury exposure, occurs mainly In children and has the following features pain In the extremities, often accompanied by pinkish discoloration and desquamation ( pink disease ) hypertension profuse sweating anorexia. Insomnia, Irritability, and/or apathy and a mlllarial rash. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits toxic fumes of NOx Uses Systemic fungicide with protective, curative props. controls wide range of diseases (yellow and black sigatoka, pink disease, powdery mildew)... 

A disease, also called pink disease, which occurs in young children, usually between 4 months and 3 years of age. It is characterized by painful red swollen hands and feet, muscular pains that make movement difficult, loss of energy, and general mental and physical sluggishness. Acrodynia may be caused by chronic mercury intoxication. Also, there are other, as yet unknown, causes of the disease. A similar condition occurs in rats on a diet deficient in pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). 

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