Lead Poisoning in Children

Long-term exposure to lead, a naturally occurring metal used in everything from construction materials to batteries, can cause serious health problems, particularly in young kids. Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children are at greatest risk for health problems from lead poisoning because their smaller, growing bodies make them more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead.

If you have young children, it's important to find out whether there's any risk that they might be exposed to lead, especially if you live in an older home. Young children get lead poisoning from lead-based paint, which was used in many homes until the late 1970s. For this reason, kids who live in older homes are at a greater risk for lead poisoning.

Lead is also found in other environmental areas, including

• contaminated soil, which is found near busy streets, in part because lead was an ingredient in gasoline until the late 1970s,
• water that flows through old lead pipes or faucets, if the pipes begin to break down,
• food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead, or imported from countries that use lead to seal canned food, and
• some toys, jewelry, hobby, and sports objects (like stained glass, ink, paint, and plaster).

WHY IS LEAD HARMFUL?

When the body is exposed to lead by inhalation, swallowing, or in a small number of cases, absorption through the skin, it can act as a poison. Exposure to high levels of lead over a short period is called acute toxicity. Exposure to small amounts of lead over a longer period is called chronic toxicity.

Lead is particularly dangerous because once it gets into a person's system; it is distributed throughout the body just like helpful minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc. The problem is that lead can cause harm wherever it lands in the body. In the bloodstream, for example, lead can damage red blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues that need it.

Most of the lead ends up in the bone, where it causes even more problems. Lead can interfere with the production of blood cells and the absorption of calcium that bones need, to grow healthy and strong. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, and nerve and blood vessel function.

Lead poisoning could lead to a variety of health problems in children:

• Decreased bone and muscle growth
• Poor muscle coordination
• Damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or hearing
• Speech and language problems
• Developmental delay
• Seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of extremely high lead levels)

SYMPTOMS OF LEAD POISONING

Many kids with lead poisoning do not show any signs of being sick, so it is important to eliminate lead risks at home, and to have your young child tested for lead exposure. However, the following symptoms might present:

• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness or fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting or nausea
• Constipation
• Pale skin from anemia (lower than normal red blood cells)
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Muscle and joint weakness or pain
• Seizures

These symptoms may also indicate a wide variety of other illnesses, so if your child has any of them, talk to your doctor. A blood test may be necessary to look for lead poisoning or other health problems.

TREATMENT

Treatment for lead poisoning varies depending on how much lead is in the blood. Small amounts can often be treated rather easily; the most important part of therapy is reduction of lead exposure. As the body naturally eliminates the lead, the level of lead in the blood will gradually fall.

Children with severe cases and extremely high levels of lead in their blood will be hospitalized to receive a medication, which chemically binds with lead, through an IV to make the lead weaker so the body can get rid of it naturally.