ABSTRACT
The disease that has emerged as an epidemic in the recent past due to intake of water contaminated with arsenic above the maximum permissible limit has become the leading cause of morbidity and subsequent mortality in arsenicaffected countries. Though arsenicosis is a global concern, the majority of sufferers are from Bangladesh, India (from state of West Bengal), and China [1]. Arsenicosis manifests itself as melanosis, keratosis, and malignant and premalignant skin lesions; though it can affect almost all the internal organs (the major organ systems affected being pulmonary, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, vascular, and nervous systems) [2]. Till date, there is no effective cure for arsenicosis and the management relies mostly on prevention and supportive therapy. It is noteworthy that some of the clinical manifestations are irreversible and a patient of arsenicosis continues to have deterioration of clinical symptoms in spite of stoppage of drinking of arsenic-contaminated water [2]. This highlights the fact that all patients of arsenicosis should be under regular follow-up even after safe-drinking water is made available to them. This chapter will focus on the various treatment options that are available for this deadly disease and highlight on the recent advances in management strategies.
