Boy develops mercury poisoning after cuddling his mum: case
He was exposed when he hugged his mother, who had unwittingly used mercury-laden skin cream, German doctors report
Parental cuddles gave a pre-schooler severe mercury poisoning after his mother unknowingly purchased a skin cream containing mercury online, German doctors report.
The case has exposed a previously unknown route of mercury exposure – skin-to-skin contact – say doctors from the Third Order Clinic in Munich.
The four-year-old boy was admitted to hospital with weakness, fatigue, profuse sweating, arterial hypertonia (114/104 mmHg) and tachycardia (>150 bpm).
He had also lost 2kg in four weeks and complained of non-specific abdominal and ankle pain.
