Hydrogen selenide poisoning: an illustrative case with review of the literature

Hydrogen selenide is a non-metallic compound currently receiving attention in both medicine and electronics. Toxicity results in multiple symptoms, the most characteristic of which is a garlicky odor of the breath. A young woman exposed repeatedly to hydrogen selenide gas developed gastrointestinal complaints, dental caries, conjunctivitis, nail deformities, and garlicky breath. Other reported cases are discussed along with various proposed treatments.