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Is ER Consultation Required If A Child Has Swallowed Mercury From A Thermometer?
Question: Day before yesterday My 6 years old son swallowed mercury from broken thermometer. What to do now is it dangerous.
Brief Answer:
Consult your paediatrician.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
A thermometer contains a very small amount of liquid metallic Mercury.
Because of very poor absorption of Mercury through skin or intestine chances of toxic side effects are very less unless it is consumed in large quantities.
Most of the time there can be no symptoms after ingestion of small amount of elemental metallic Mercury. Mercury is poisonous mainly by inhalational route.
Symptoms can be irritability, vomiting, abnormal movement of the body, nervousness, cough, breathlessness or blood mixed vomits.
I won't get worried if the baby has not developed any symptoms yet. But to be on safer side I would suggest you consult your paediatrician.
If taken in large quantities, it can be visible in abdominal X-ray.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr Pradeep Kumar
Consult your paediatrician.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
A thermometer contains a very small amount of liquid metallic Mercury.
Because of very poor absorption of Mercury through skin or intestine chances of toxic side effects are very less unless it is consumed in large quantities.
Most of the time there can be no symptoms after ingestion of small amount of elemental metallic Mercury. Mercury is poisonous mainly by inhalational route.
Symptoms can be irritability, vomiting, abnormal movement of the body, nervousness, cough, breathlessness or blood mixed vomits.
I won't get worried if the baby has not developed any symptoms yet. But to be on safer side I would suggest you consult your paediatrician.
If taken in large quantities, it can be visible in abdominal X-ray.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr Pradeep Kumar
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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