Allergic contact dermatitis and mercury exanthem due to mercury chloride in plastic boots

We report a 5-year-old child with previous skin intolerance from Mercurochrome (merbromin), who developed a severe allergic contact dermatitis of both feet when wearing new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) boots. Within a few days, he developed a mercury exanthem involving both legs, groins and lateral parts of the trunk. Patch tests showed strong reactions to organic and inorganic mercury compounds, in particular to mercury chloride (mercury chloride; HgCl2), 0.01% pet., which was identified by atomic absorption spectrometry and polarography in the boots worn. New hidden sources of mercury in consumer goods may represent a potential source of danger for the future, if its use is not more strictly regulated.