Patient's question:
The baby bit and broke the thermometer. Is it serious to eat a few particles? How long will it take for symptoms to appear? Treatment history and effectiveness: No treatment has been given. Quickly, what kind of help do you need: How to properly handle itDoctor's answer:
Accidentally ingested, mercury will combine with enzymes and proteins containing thiol groups in the body, interfering with their activity and hindering normal cellular decomposition and metabolism, leading to heavy metal poisoning. Although the amount of mercury in a thermometer is not significant, ingestion can still cause oral inflammation and acute gastroenteritis, manifesting as oral lesions, ulcers, abdominal pain, nausea, dry vomiting, and vomiting. It is recommended to drink water, wash your face, and then consume some egg white or milk to thoroughly remove residual mercury from the mouth. The proteins in egg white or milk will combine with the ingested mercury, thereby protecting the gastric mucosa.