[Mercury poisoning caused by a homeopathic drug]. / Intoxicación mercurial causada por un medicamento homeopático.

We report an infant with diaper dermatitis and mild respiratory and enteral infections, treated with a homeopathic mercurial medicine: Mercurius 6a (cinnabar dilute 1 x 10(6)), who thereafter became seriously ill with exacerbation and dissemination of the dermatitis as well as irritability and albuminuria. Mercury urine levels were 60 micrograms/L (reference less than 10 micrograms/L). The homeopathic medicine was suspended but symptoms persisted. Therefore the chelating agent D-penicillamine was administered per os (50 mg/kg/day during 10 days). The clinical conditions improved and urinary levels of mercury decreased to normal values. We concluded that homeopathic medicaments should be recognised as potentially harmful substances.

[Gangrene of the newborn. Report of a case]. / Gangrena del neonato. Communicación de un caso.

A case of gangrene of the right lower limb is reported in a 6 hours of age newborn with satisfactory course following management based on the prevention of possible infections and on maintaining good general conditions. World literature is reviewed finding only 50 cases reported of gangrene of the newborn. Guidelines are established to determine an integral diagnosis of the disease and to carry out a correct differential diagnosis. It is concluded that the etiology of this entity is unknown, although a number of factors are invoked. However, most of these factors imply thromboembolic disturbances that may be either of maternal origin, of the product or mixed. Stress in placed on the necessity that the pediatrician becomes not only thoroughly acquainted with these processes, but also, that he develops the capacity to carry out an early diagnosis and management since these may be guidelines for a satisfactory evolution of the problem.