How to know if your child's unexplained illnesses is due to lead poisoning?

Lead is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. Lead poisoning, which is caused by exposure to high levels of lead, is a serious and sometimes fatal condition. It occurs when lead builds up in the body. Lead poisoning usually occurs over a period of months or years. It can cause severe mental and physical impairment. Young children are most vulnerable, as lead is found in water, paints, including paint on the walls of old houses and toys, even in art supplies.

Lead is most commonly found in houses built before 1978. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, cramps, and hyperactivity. Lead poisoning can be diagnosed through a blood lead test. Treatment includes finding and removing the source of the lead to prevent further exposure.

What is lead poisoning?

Lead is a naturally occurring poisonous metal found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. It’s a toxic element that can cause serious health effects in humans and animals. Lead is especially dangerous to babies and young children. It can harm them even before they’re born.

Lead poisoning happens when your child is affected by high levels of lead exposure. Lead poisoning is usually caused by eating or drinking (ingesting) lead, but touching or breathing in the toxic metal can also cause it. Lead poisoning is when any detectable amount of lead is found in your child’s blood. Lead can affect many parts of your child’s body, including their brain, nerves, blood, digestive organs, and more. While lead poisoning can affect anyone, it’s especially dangerous in children. It can damage your child’s nervous system, brain, and other organs.

Lead poisoning can also lead to severe health, learning, and behavioural problems, including sudden brain damage, and long-term intellectual deficits.

Symptoms of lead poisoning:

The early stages of lead poisoning are not specific. They can affect your nerves and cause symptoms, such as:

Mood changes such as depression or irritability

Memory issues

Sleep issues

Extreme headaches, nausea, vomiting

Anaemia

Tingling sensation and numbness in fingers and hands

Lack of appetite

Diarrhoea, constipation

Stomach pains

Severe weight loss

In later stages, lead poisoning can affect your blood, kidneys, bones, heart, or reproductive systems. In extreme cases, lead poisoning can cause death.

In children, the signs are a bit different. Since a child’s brain is still in a developing phase, lead can lead to intellectual disability as well. Symptoms may include:

Behavioural problems

Low IQ

Poor grades at school

Problems with hearing

Short- and long-term learning difficulties

Growth delays



How to diagnose lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning can be diagnosed with a blood test. This test is performed on a standard blood sample. It is known that levels as low as 5 micrograms per deciliter can be associated with health problems in children. Additional tests could include blood tests to look at the amount of iron storing cells in the blood, X-rays, and possibly a bone marrow biopsy.

How to treat lead poisoning?

The first step of treatment is to locate and remove the source of the lead, especially by keeping children away from the source. If it cannot be removed, it should be sealed. In more severe cases, a procedure known as chelation therapy can be used. This treatment binds to lead that has accumulated in your body. The lead is then excreted in your urine. Chemical chelators that are used most often include EDTA and DMSA. EDTA has side effects that include kidney dysfunction, and DMSA can often cause nausea, abdominal distress, and allergic reactions, among others. Even with treatment, it can be hard to reverse the effects of chronic exposure.



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