Mercury poisoning is a rare cause of hypertension in children.
Urinary excretion sometimes remains low despite severe clinical intoxication. A 32 month-old girl was admitted with hypertension, tachycardia, apathy, irritability and excessive sweating. Erythromelalgia and neurologic symptoms permitted the diagnosis of acrodynia. Urine mercury remained normal until chelation. Captopril significantly increased urine mercury concentration but failed to improve clinical manifestations.