What is Mercury poisoning?
{{Distinguish|Heavy metal poisoning}} {{Infobox medical condition | name = Mercury poisoning | synonyms = Mercury toxicity, mercury overdose, mercury intoxication, hydrargyria, mercurialism | image = Maximum thermometer close up 2.JPG | caption = The bulb of a [[mercury-in-glass thermometer]] | field = [[Toxicology]] | symptoms = [[Muscle weakness]], poor coordination, [[paraesthesia|numbness in the hands and feet]]<ref name=NIH2016/> | complications = [[Kidney problems]], decreased intelligence<ref name=Bos2010/> | onset = | duration = | causes = Exposure to [[mercury (element)|mercury]]<ref name=NIH2016/> | risks = Consumption of fish, which may contain mercury<ref name=Ber2012/> | diagnosis = Difficult<ref name=Ber2012/> | differential = | prevention = Decreasing use of mercury, low mercury diet<ref name=WHO2016/> | treatment = | medication = '''Acute poisoning''': [[dimercaptosuccinic acid]] (DMSA), [[dimercaptopropane sulfonate]] (DMPS)<ref name=Kos2013/> | frequency = | deaths = }} '''Mercury poisoning''' is a [[health]] disturbance caused by high levels of exposure to [[Mercury (element)|mercury]]. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include pink colour in the cheeks, fingertips, and toes, [[swelling]], unexplainable [[Sweat|sweating]], lots of [[saliva]], fast heartbeat ([[tachycardia]]), high blood pressure ([[hypertension]]) and [[hair]] loss for some people. Mercury exposure happens most often through eating certain types of fish or via other ways. ==References== {{reflist}} {{med-stub}} [[Category:Health problems]]