A rare case of self-injection of elemental mercury. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thanuja Nilushi Priyangika, Singankutti; Karunarathna, W.; Liyanage, Isurujith; Gunawardana, Methsala; Dissanayake, Buddini; Udumalgala, Sumeda; Rosa, Chamith; Samarasinghe, Thilina; Wijesinghe, Pravin; Kulatunga, Aruna
• Is Part Of: BMC research notes. Volume 9:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 4
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Self-injection -- Elemental mercury -- Mentally sound -- Chelation; Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-1992-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-0500

Abstract

Abstract Background Self-injection of elemental mercury is a rare finding especially in healthy people who are mentally sound. Early detection and removal of mercury from the body by chelation and physical removal of a stored injected site is required to prevent long term toxicity. Case presentation A 15 year old previously healthy girl presented with an acute febrile illness with a generalized maculopapular skin rash for 3 days with a preceding history of self-injection of mercury to both her forearms. This was an imitating experimental act influenced by a movie and she was mentally sound. Very high whole blood mercury levels, x-rays of the forearms and histology confirmed mercury poisoning. Conclusion Self-injection of elemental mercury can also occur in mentally sound people and rapid diagnosis and decontamination is required. This also signifies the importance of imposing limitations for visual media which could misguide minors and lead those to imitate and cause serious self-harm.