Citation

Ruha AM, Tanen DA, Suchard JR, Curry SC. J. Emerg. Med. 2001; 20(1): 39-42.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/s0736-4679(00)00283-3

PMID

11165836

Abstract

A 40-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia and inflammatory soft tissue lesions after self-injection of elemental mercury presented to the Emergency Department. Multiple skin abscesses associated with fever required operative debridement. An incidental finding of oral mercury ingestion was followed clinically and did not result in complications. Exposure to elemental mercury through injection or ingestion is an uncommon event, but one the Emergency Physician may encounter. Subcutaneous mercury injection should be managed with local wound debridement, whereas ingestions are rarely of clinical significance.

Language: en

Keywords

Abscess; Administration, Oral; Adult; Debridement; Emergencies; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Mercury Poisoning; Radiography; Schizophrenia; Soft Tissue Injuries; Suicide, Attempted