Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Lead Poisoning, Prevention of
Exposure to large amounts of lead causes severe lead
poisoning and major symptoms. The symptoms of severe lead
poisoning include abdominal pains, headaches, vomiting,
confusion, muscle weakness, seizures, hair loss, and anemia.
Children with these symptoms eventually are recognized and
receive appropriate medical treatment.
Repeated exposure to small amounts of lead can also cause
lead poisoning because the lead accumulates in the body.
However, there may not be any obvious symptoms. Thus,
parents of children with mild lead poisoning may not know
they need to seek medical help for their children.
Poisoning by low levels of lead can cause silent brain
damage. The brain damage results in such problems as
lowered IQ scores (an average of 7 IQ points lost),
decreased attention span, decreased hearing, speech delays,
and other developmental delays.
The brain is most sensitive to lead exposure during the
first 6 years of life. Lead poisoning is one of the most
common preventable diseases in the U.S. and Canada.
SOURCES OF LEAD EXPOSURE
The most common source of lead exposure for children is
lead-based paint. Lead was finally banned from house paint
in 1978. Three quarters of all houses built before 1960
contain lead-based paint. When paint chips or peels, young
children can pick up these particles and chew them. More
commonly, children swallow dust and soil contaminated with
lead paint. Home remodeling and sanding especially put a
great deal of lead powder into dust and soil. Because
toddlers commonly put their hands in their mouths, suck
their thumbs, and explore their environment by tasting
things, they are at special risk for lead poisoning.
Other sources of lead are air, water, and food. The amount
of lead present in the air from automobile exhaust has been
markedly reduced by the almost complete phasing out of
leaded gasoline in the U.S. Lead is found in low levels in
some drinking water because lead-based solder on old water
pipes may add lead to water. (Lead-based solder was not
banned for use with water pipes until 1986.) Lead is also
sometimes found in fruit juice or food stored in lead-glazed
pottery that has been improperly fired.
PREVENTION OF LEAD POISONING
- Make sure your child is not exposed to peeling paint.
Pay special attention to windowsills.
- To remove lead dust:
- Rinse your child's hands and face before she eats.
- Rinse toys and pacifiers frequently.
- If your child sucks his thumb or fingers, rinse his
hands frequently.
- Wet-mop your hard surface floors.
- Close off rooms that are being remodeled.
- If you have leaded paint on the outside of your house,
keep lead dust from being tracked into your house. Have
a washable mat at each door entry so everyone who enters
wipes their feet. If the soil around your house is
definitely contaminated with lead, have a rule that
people take off their shoes before coming into your
house.
- If the soil around your home is contaminated with lead,
replace it or plant bushes next to the walls so that
children cannot play there.
- If you need water for cooking or for preparing formula,
use only water from the cold water tap. If the water
hasn't been used for several hours, let the water run for
2 minutes before you use it. (Lead dissolves more in
warm water or standing water.) If you are concerned,
have your water tested for lead.
- Do not store food or drink in pottery that may not have
been fired correctly.
- Make sure your child's diet contains enough iron and
calcium. Both of these minerals make it harder for a
body to absorb lead.
- Make sure that your child isn't being exposed to lead
through contact with adults who have occupations or
hobbies that involve lead.
SCREENING FOR LEAD POISONING
Lead poisoning is diagnosed by a blood test. In most states
only the children who are at high risk for lead poisoning
are tested (selective or targeted screening). In general,
this test is performed when children are 12 months old and
repeated when they are 2 years old. In 1991 the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention suggested the following
situations as reasons for testing a child for lead poisoning
because they have a high risk:
- The child lives in or regularly visits a house or
structure with peeling or chipped paint that was built
before 1960, including day care centers, preschools, or
homes of baby sitters and relatives. Most paint
manufactured before 1960 contained lead.
- The child lives in or regularly visits a home that is
being renovated and was built before 1960.
- The child has a brother, sister, housemate, or playmate
who is being followed or treated for lead poisoning.
- The child lives with an adult whose job or hobby involves
exposure to lead. Examples of such jobs or hobbies
include furniture refinishing, making stained glass,
making pottery, using indoor firing ranges, and working
in industries such as storage batteries, automotive
repair, and bridge, tunnel, and elevated highway
construction.
- The child lives near an active smelter, battery recycling
plant, mine tailing pile, or other industry likely to
release lead.
- The child receives medical treatment for removal of a
foreign body from the ear, nose, or stomach.
- The child has the habit of swallowing nonfood substances
(pica).
- The child is less than 6 years old and has an unexplained
developmental delay, hearing defect, irritability, severe
attention deficit, violent tantrums, or unexplained
anemia.
- The child lives in a neighborhood at high risk for lead
poisoning (often identified by zip code.)
Children who remain at high risk for lead exposure should be
tested for lead at least every year until their sixth
birthday. The levels of lead when a child is 12 months old
and 24 months old are especially important.
TREATMENT OF LEAD POISONING
Children with high levels of lead in their blood or symptoms
of lead poisoning need to start taking a medication (called
a chelating agent) that binds with the lead and carries it
out of the body. All children with any elevated levels of
lead need to be protected from re-exposure to the lead until
it is removed. A public health agency or housing agency
should carefully inspect the child's home environment for
lead hazards. The family should take all of the precautions
for preventing lead exposure.
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