Lead is everywhere -- in food, soil, and air, and in human bodies. It serves no useful biological purpose, but an excess can cause illness and disability. The body absorbs up to 10% of the lead it takes in. In iron-deficient children, 50% of ingested lead may be absorbed. Lead poisoning is more likely in children 6 months to 6 years who live in homes built before the 1960s.
Appropriate health care includes:
Hospitalization for severe cases.
Home care with special attention to prevent further exposure to lead.
Possible long-term pediatric convalescent center after rigorous treatment.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMSAnemia (inhibits production of heme, the iron-carrying component of hemoglobin).
Early: Fatigue, paleness, constipation, appetite loss, irritability, behavioral changes, short-memory loss, sleep disorders, slowing of the child's mental development.
More severe: Vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, clumsiness, weakness, confusion, seizures.
CAUSESChewing objects with lead, such as paint.
Swallowing contaminated dust or soil.
Inhaling dust with lead.
RISK FACTORSLiving in heavily industrialized and urban areas.
Iron deficiency that causes lead to be more easily absorbed by a child.
Being 6 months to 6 years of age.
Underlying illness (such as sickle cell anemia).
PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCE
Use lead-free paint throughout your home so children won't be exposed.
Educate children not to put foreign objects of any kind in their mouths.
Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
Urine and blood tests for lead.
Laboratory analysis of household samples of paint, dust, soil, air.
X-rays to study the extent of the deposit of lead in the child's bones.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONSPermanent problem with seizures, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, severe kidney damage.
If treatment begins before the child's brain and nervous system are involved, the outlook is good for a normal life and life-span, but eliminating lead from a child's body can be a very slow process.
Discover sources of exposure to lead and remove them, or remove the child from the environment.
Discuss with your physician or social worker ways and means to increase mental stimulation for the child.
Provide strong family support.
Get frequent follow-up exams to monitor the child's progress.
MEDICATIONMedicine to increase urine flow through the child's kidney.
Chelation therapy intravenously or intramuscularly in a physician's office, the out-patient section of a hospital, or in the hospital. This treatment may last 3 days to 3 months.
Side effects of chelation treatment can include nausea, vomiting, bruising, skin rash, heartbeat irregularities. These are reversible upon cessation of chelation treatment.
Your child can increase slowly to normal activity.
DIET & FLUIDS
No special diet.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?When strength and sense of well-being will allow.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
Your child develops any new symptoms after treatment. Medications used can cause side effects.