Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disorder characterized by loss of coordination, particularly affecting gait and balance. It can be acquired or congenital. Among the acquired causes are infectious, metabolic, vascular, neoplastic processes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and toxic ones. Mercury poisoning can generate subacute or chronic neurological manifestations, with cerebellar ataxia being a rare manifestation. Cases of poisoning by this heavy metal still occur in people of underdeveloped countries, especially in fields such as illegal and low-scale mining, who still use it to extract gold. In this case, an atypical and acute presentation of mercury poisoning in an illegal mining worker patient with cerebellar ataxia will be described.



