Mercury intake by gastrointenstinal track and importance of blood level measurement method: a case report -

Mercury is found in nature in liquid form at room temperature. Because it always freely moves in nature with natural distribution, it is found in trace amounts in all living organisms. Mercury exposure can occur by inhalation, gastrointenstinal absorption, or dermal contact. Forms of poisoning change according to occupations and living conditions. After exposure, the mercury-exposed patient can show cardiac symptoms like itchy rashes, burning sensation, arrhythmia, and hypertension along with neuropsychiatric symptoms ranging from personality changes to seizures. Mercury esposure can be seen in children. Children are exposed to mercury accidentally. As it is the case in many toxic substances, methods of analysis are of utmost importance in treatment and follow-ups of such cases. There may be distruptions while conducting these analyses and passing the results of these analyses to the practitioners that will decide on the treatment. It seems difficult to enable toxicological analyses in all hospitals. We believe that there must be regional hospitals with accredited laboratories capable of carrying out such analyses in similar cases of poisoning and that these cases should be promptly referred to these designated centres.