Acrodynia is primarily a mercury poisoning syndrome affecting which group?

• A. Children
• B. Adults
• C. Elderly
• D. Infants only

Answer: (A)

Acrodynia, or pink disease, is mercury poisoning that most often involves children. This age group is particularly at risk because they are more likely to encounter inorganic mercury compounds through everyday products and through hand-to-mouth behavior, which increases absorption. In children, mercury exposure leads to the characteristic red/pink discoloration and swelling of the hands and feet, along with irritability, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and other systemic signs.

Adults and the elderly typically have less exposure and different exposure patterns, making this syndrome far less common in those groups. Infants are included in the pediatric risk, but describing it as “infants only” would be too narrow. So the group most affected remains children.