Psychiatric Signs and Symptoms Attributed to Mercury Poisoning

PSYCHIATRIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ATTRIBUTED TO MERCURY POISONING 

dyspnea, chest pain, interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, necrotizing bronchiolitis 

Ashy discoloration of mouth/pharynx, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, membranous colitis, hematemesis, intestinal wall necrosis with scarring/fibrosis/stenosis 

Dermatographism, irritation, vesication, corrosion, dermatitis, burning, swelling, erythematous rash 

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 

---

Table 10-3 summarizes the psychiatric signs and symptoms attributed to mercury poisoning. Two syndromes appear frequently in case histories erethism in adults and acrodynia in children. The psychiatric components of erethism consist of irritability, excitability, timidity and excessive embarrassment, depression, and anxiety. Certain differences between acrodynia and erethism led some investigators to question mercury s role in acrodynia. Acrodynia in infants and children usually lacks the timidity and excessive embarrassment of the adult syndrome. Prominent features of acrodynia include the red, swollen, and cold extremities not usually seen in adult cases. In... 

TABLE 10-3. Psychiatric signs and symptoms attributed to mercury poisoning... 

---