Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India | Department of Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Sanjeev Jha, M.D., Department of Neurology,
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate, Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road,
Lucknow, India. Tel.: +91 522 2668700; E-mail: sjha@sgpgi.ac.in
Abstract: Arsenic poisoning has multiple causes including exposure to
pesticides, rodenticides, paints, pigments, alloys and consumption of water
contaminated with arsenic. In India, traditional home made, herbal remedies are
widely consumed to enhance potency and vitality, and they are often
contaminated with toxic ingredients, including arsenic. We report a case of
chronic arsenic poisoning, due to prolonged consumption of such a homemade
vitaliser that contained arsenic as chief ingredient. Our patient presented
with polyneuropathy and cutaneous lesions that recovered significantly with
dimercaprol therapy, despite delayed diagnosis.
Keywords: Arsenic, polyneuropathy, home made-vitaliser, Mees' line, quadriparesis
