Case report

Cracked mercury dental amalgam as a possible cause of fever of unknown origin: a case report

Fabrizia Bamonti¹ , Gianpaolo Guzzi² and Maria Elena Ferrero³

¹  Department of Medical Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Foundation Policlinico, Mangiagalli, Regina Elena Hospital, Via F. Sforza, 35, Milan, Italy

²  Italian Association for Metals and Biocompatibility Research – A.I.R.M.E.B. Milan, Italy

³  Institute of General Pathology, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:72doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-72

Published:	6 March 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Sudden fever of unknown origin is quite a common emergency and may lead to hospitalization. A rise in body temperature can be caused by infectious diseases and by other types of medical condition. This case report is of a woman who had fever at night for several days and other clinical signs which were likely related to cracked dental mercury amalgam.

Case presentation

A healthy women developed fever many days after had cracked a mercury dental amalgam filling. Blood tests evidenced increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia and elevated white cell count; symptoms were headache and palpitations. Blood tests and symptoms normalized within three weeks of removal of the dental amalgam.

Conclusion

This case highlights the possible link between mercury vapor exposure from cracked dental amalgam and early activation of the immune system leading to fever of unknown origin.