Understanding Mad Hatter’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Mad Hatter’s Disease

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Mad Hatter's Syndrome - Mercury poisoning

General

Mad Hatter’s Disease, also known as Mad Hatter's Syndrome, is a condition caused by prolonged exposure to mercury, typically from occupational exposure in industries such as hat making, dental work, and gold mining. The condition is named after the character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" because hat makers in the 19th century were known to use mercury in their work.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of Mad Hatter's Disease include tremors, personality changes, irritability, memory loss, difficulty with speech, hearing and vision problems, and sensory impairment. These symptoms can occur gradually over time with prolonged exposure to mercury.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Mad Hatter's Disease is made based on a physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests to measure levels of mercury in the body. Imaging studies, such as CT scans and MRIs, may also be used to evaluate the extent of damage caused by mercury exposure.

Treatment

Treatment for Mad Hatter's Disease involves reducing or eliminating exposure to mercury, which may include changes in occupation or work environment. Chelation therapy, a medical treatment that involves the use of medications to remove heavy metals from the body, may also be used in some cases. The goal of treatment is to slow or stop the progression of symptoms and prevent further damage to the nervous system.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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