Metallic mercury vapour poisoning revisited.

Mercury poisoning was once common in the 19th century. With its declining use, now clinicians and the public in general are often unaware and unsuspecting of mercury toxicity. A 40-year-old woman and her two children were hospitalized with a 1-week history of a generalized lichenoid eruption. Clinical improvement occurred without a diagnosis; however, on returning home, features of acrodynia with digital gangrene developed in the woman, leading to suspicion of heavy metal poisoning. There was no recurrence after moving from their contaminated house.