A man working as a pest killer comes to OPD with pain abdomen, garlic odour in breath and transverse lines on nails. MOST likely the person is suffering from:: (A) Arsenic poisoning, (B) Lead poisoning, (C) Mercury poisoning, (D) Cadmium poisoning
Answer is A. Garlic odour and transverse lines on nails i.e. Mee's lines are features of chronic arsenic poisoning. Constitutional symptoms of chronic arsenic poisoning: Fatigue Weight loss Weakness Anemia Nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints Sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy, paicularly featuring a stocking glove pattern of dysesthesia Skin changes--among the most characteristic effects--typically "raindrop" pattern of hyperpigmentation, and hyperkeratoses involving the hands and feet Transverse white striae (Aldrich-Mees lines) on nails.