Abstract
Four cases of allergy to mercury were reported. All of the patients had broken the mercurial thermometers before onset. One to three days later, the eruption appeared. The eruption distributed on the anterior trunk, axillary fossae, antecubital fossae, inguinal regions, inner thighs and popliteal fossae. This distribution of the lesion was very helpful to diagnose. Two of the patients (case 3. and 4.) had histories of contact dermatitis by mercurochrome. Patch tests were carried out in case from L and 2, and were positive with mercuric chloride and mercurochrome. Interestingly in case 2, the relapse of the eruption was induced following patch tests. These four cases were diagnosed as systemic eczematous contact-type dermatitis associated with aspiration of mercurial gas.
