A 30-year-old woman ingests an unknown substance and presents 6 hours later with severe vomiting, garlic odor of breath, watery diarrhea, and hypotension. She develops acute renal failure and hematuria on day 2. Which poisoning is MOST likely?
- A Carbolic acid (phenol)
- B Mercuric chloride ✓
- C Oxalic acid
- D Sulphuric acid
Correct answer: B. Mercuric chloride
Explanation
Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate) causes immediate corrosive GI injury (garlic-like odor, vomiting, diarrhea), followed by acute tubular necrosis with oliguric renal failure 24-48 hours later, and then ulcerative gastroenteritis. The combination of acute GI injury with delayed renal failure is characteristic. Carbolic acid causes corrosive burns without prominent delayed renal failure. Sulphuric acid causes immediate corrosive injury. Oxalic acid causes hypocalcemia and calcium oxalate crystalluria.
Reference: Reddy's The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 35th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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