Chinese Journal of Dermatology

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Baboon syndrome induced by mercury:a case report

WEN Li-ping1, YIN Jia1, MA Dong-lai2   

  1. Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
  • Received:2006-12-30 Online:2007-10-15 Published:2007-10-15

Abstract: A case of mercury-induced Baboon syndrome is reported.A 31-year-old female presented with a 2-3 day history of pruritic symmetric erythematous papules on both axillas,popliteal fossa,buttocks and groins.The patient was exposed to a broken mercury thermometer two days before the onset of the eruption.Patch testing showed that the patient was sensitive to ammoniated mercury,mercury,mercuric chloride and mercurochrome.The mercury levels in serum and full blood reached the up limit of normal value three days after the onset,and gradually decreased over time.The patient was diagnosed with Baboon syn-drome caused by mercury according to the clinical manifestation and results from laboratory studies.

Key words: Mercury, Anaphylaxis, Dermatitis, contact