Alopecia & skin rash, painful peripheral neuropathy and confusion with lethargy are seen in?

The combination of alopecia & skin rash, painful peripheral neuropathy and confusion with lethargy are seen in?
A. Copper poisoning
B. Nickel poisoning
C. Selenium poisoning
D. Thallium poisoning

Correct answer : D. Thallium poisoning

• The combination of alopecia & skin rash, painful peripheral neuropathy and confusion with lethargy are known as ‘Thallium triad’.
• It is indicative of chronic thallium poisoning.
• Other symptoms include dystrophy of nails (Mees’ lines; also seen in arsenic poisoning), cardiovascular symptoms like hypertension and cardiomyopathy, ophthalmological symptoms like ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus, keratitis, lens opacity and optic atrophy.

Ref: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, V. V. Pillay, 14th edition, p414.