Mercury poisoning symptoms Mercury poisoning is so serious

Although pure mercury is not common in daily life, mercury thermometers are items that are often used in daily life. Once the mercury thermometer is accidentally broken and not handled in time, the human body will suffer from mercury poisoning. So what are the symptoms of mercury poisoning? Most people don't understand this. In fact, mercury poisoning is very scary. In mild cases, it can cause headaches and dizziness, while in severe cases, it can cause convulsions or even coma.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning

1. Oral poisoning

Oral intake of metallic mercury generally does not cause poisoning. If the oral dose is too large, systemic fever and upper abdominal pain may occur. Chest X-ray examination may show a full appendix. It is usually excreted in the feces after 1 to 2 days. Occasionally, there may be vomiting, drowsiness, and increased urinary mercury.

2. Inhalation poisoning

(1) Nervous system

Headache, dizziness, general fatigue, emotional agitation, irritability, etc. In severe cases, convulsions, coma and mental disorders may occur.

(2) Digestive system

In the early stages, symptoms of stomatitis such as drooling, thirst, redness and swelling of the gums and oral mucosa, erosion, ulcers, bleeding, and pain may appear, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc., and may cause liver damage.

(3) Respiratory system

Severe cases may experience cough, chest pain, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Chest X-rays may show thickened lung texture and patchy, fuzzy shadows in the lower part of both lungs.

(4) Urinary system

Symptoms of mercury toxic nephropathy may include low back pain, edema, proteinuria, hematuria, tubular urine, oliguria, etc. In severe cases, acute renal failure may occur.

(5) Others

Increased body temperature, rash, blisters and even erosions.

Deal with hidden dangers to avoid future chronic poisoning

To summarize the above different mercury poisoning modes, such as mercury monomer liquid, mercury vapor, mercury compounds, etc., acute mercury poisoning is rare. Therefore, if parents encounter similar situations, please do not be too excited and anxious. It is more important to deal with hidden dangers seriously and avoid the occurrence of chronic poisoning in the future.

If it is spilled on the ground, please don't worry. Just don't mop it around. Even if you leave it there, it will not cause acute poisoning. Of course, it may cause chronic poisoning, so you need to promptly use a moistened cotton swab to recycle it into the bottle, pour water in and seal it, ventilate it for a day, and if you suspect there is any residue in the gap, sprinkle some sulfur.

What to do if your baby bites the thermometer?

If your baby bites the thermometer and breaks it, please carefully check whether there is any glass residue in the mouth, and then go to the hospital for relevant treatment. Under normal circumstances, there will be no serious danger. There is no need to follow Baidu and feed your children eggs, milk, soy milk, etc., because it is the heavy metal ions that react with proteins, not metal monomers.

In addition, in daily life, paying attention to taking less traditional Chinese medicine containing cinnabar, and eating less deep-sea fish that contain more mercury, are good ways to reduce the possibility of mercury poisoning. If similar symptoms really occur and mercury poisoning is suspected, go to the hospital for relevant examinations and receive relevant treatment based on the examination results.

Of course, you all know what another solution is: replace the electronic thermometer. Next time, give the mercury thermometers in stock to the hospital; they know how to recycle them.