- 1. Acute intoxication
- 2. Chronic intoxication
- Complications of mercury contamination
- Signs of improvement and worsening
The treatment for eliminating mercury from the body can be done by gastric lavage or by the use of medications, depending on the form that the contamination occurred and the time that the person was exposed to this metal.
Mercury poisoning can happen as a result of professional activity, as in the case of garimpeiros and people who work making fluorescent lamps, or due to the consumption of water or fish contaminated with mercury. Learn more about how mercury poisoning happens.
Mercury poisoning can be acute when contact with this metal is recent and has occurred only once, or chronic, when contact with mercury over a long period of time. The longer the exposure time to mercury, the worse the health consequences, since the metal accumulates in the body causing damage.
The treatment of mercury poisoning varies according to the amount and time of exposure to mercury:
1. Acute intoxication
The treatment of acute intoxication, which is when contact was made only once, can be done through gastric lavage, induction of vomiting or use of laxatives to eliminate the substance from the intestine.
If the mercury has come into contact with the skin, wash the area with soap and water, while if the contact has been in the eyes, wash with abundant running water.
If signs and symptoms of intoxication appear even after gastric lavage or induction of vomiting, it is important to return to the health center or hospital for tests and other treatment to be started.
2. Chronic intoxication
The treatment of chronic intoxication, which is when you have prolonged exposure to mercury, includes:
- Remove the cause of intoxication, to eliminate exposure to the toxic metal; Use diuretic drugs, as contamination can reduce urine production; Use mercury chelating drugs, which bind to mercury facilitating its excretion by the body; Increase consumption of coriander, because this vegetable helps to eliminate the mercury from the cells; Consume chlorella, an algae that eliminates mercury through the intestine; Increase the consumption of selenium, zinc and magnesium, as they help to strengthen the body against mercury. These minerals are present in foods such as chestnuts, peanuts, seeds such as flaxseed and pumpkin, and dairy products; Increase the consumption of vitamins B, C and E, present in citrus fruits such as acerola and pineapple, orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin and milk and dairy products.
As soon as the mercury contamination or the first symptoms of intoxication of the organism appear, the doctor should be contacted to start the treatment, which can take weeks or months, depending on the degree of contamination of the individual.
See more about how to eliminate mercury from the body through food.
Complications of mercury contamination
Contamination by mercury can cause complications such as neurological disorders, kidney problems, liver, skin and reproductive and immune systems. Excess mercury in the body of pregnant women can also cause fetal malformations and the baby's death.
The intensity of the consequences depends on the form of mercury contamination, the concentration of this metal and the person's vulnerability, being more dangerous in children and the elderly.
Signs of improvement and worsening
The signs of improvement in mercury contamination are a reduction in symptoms of tiredness, weakness and skin irritation. When the contamination starts to pass, it is possible to notice an improvement in appetite, muscle pain and mental confusion, with recovery of memory and the proper functioning of the whole organism.
The signs of worsening of the contamination are increased initial symptoms, with great mental confusion, loss of memory, malfunctioning kidneys and decreased urine production. When mercury contamination is high, it can lead to permanent neurological problems, even with treatment to eliminate this metal from the body.
