Toxicology: chronic mercury poisoning: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: chronic mercury poisoning

Sample item

A worker in a felt-hat factory develops tremors, irritability, shyness, excessive salivation and gum disease. Which poison is responsible?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Mercury

Chronic mercury poisoning presents with gingivitis, ptyalism, tremors and a neuropsychiatric picture called erethism, as seen historically in hatters using mercury compounds (mad hatter). Arsenic causes skin and nail changes and neuropathy. Thallium causes painful neuropathy with hair loss.

Option by option

  • A. Arsenic

    Arsenic produces hyperkeratosis, pigmentation and Mees lines rather than erethism and ptyalism.

  • B. Mercury (correct)

    Correct. Erethism, tremor and stomatitis are characteristic of chronic mercury exposure.

  • C. Copper

    Copper poisoning mainly causes gastrointestinal upset and haemolysis.

  • D. Thallium

    Thallium produces painful neuropathy and alopecia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Mercury. Chronic mercury poisoning presents with gingivitis, ptyalism, tremors and a neuropsychiatric picture called erethism, as seen historically in hatters using mercury compounds (mad hatter).

Why is "Arsenic" not the answer?

Arsenic produces hyperkeratosis, pigmentation and Mees lines rather than erethism and ptyalism.

Why is "Copper" not the answer?

Copper poisoning mainly causes gastrointestinal upset and haemolysis.

Why is "Thallium" not the answer?

Thallium produces painful neuropathy and alopecia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: chronic mercury poisoning in Forensic Medicine. Arsenic causes skin and nail changes and neuropathy. Thallium causes painful neuropathy with hair loss.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology: chronic mercury poisoning?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.