Chronic selenium can occur following long-term, unrecognized exposure. The presence of certain symptoms may identify a patient who should have selenium levels measured.
Sources of chronic selenium exposure:
(1) high environmental levels in soil
(2) industrial (glass, ceramics, steel, electronics, pigments)
(3) accidental
(4) high nutritional intake
Signs and symptoms:
(1) garlic odor on breath
(2) thick, brittle fingernails with white, horizontal streaking
(3) dry, brittle hair
(4) alopecia
(5) red, swollen skin in hands and feet
(6) fatigue and irritability
(7) numbness
(8) muscle tenderness or tremor
(9) paralysis
(10) convulsions
(11) nausea and vomiting
(12) metallic taste
(13) dental caries
(14) facial flushing
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
