Subcutaneous self-injection and oral self-administration of metallic mercury--case report

Przegl Lek. 1997;54(10):759-62.

Abstract

This paper presents a case of 16-year-old schoolboy who injected subcutaneously about 6 ml of metallic mercury to both forearms and administered orally about 5 ml of it. The patient was admitted to hospital two weeks after this incident without any clinical symptoms. Physical examination and all laboratory tests, including chest x-ray were unremarkable except for granulomata at the injection sites. X-ray examination showed numerous, dispersed globules of mercury in subcutaneous tissue of both forearms and in the digestive tract, mainly in the appendix. Granulomatous tissue with a part of mercury from both forearms as well as appendix were surgically removed. During a six-month period no toxic effects of mercury have been observed, in spite of the fact, that blood mercury level was 132 micrograms/L and urinary mercury level was 500 micrograms/L.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Forearm / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Mercury / administration & dosage*
  • Mercury / blood
  • Mercury Poisoning*
  • Military Personnel
  • Naval Medicine
  • Poland
  • Radiography
  • Self Medication
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Mercury