Lead Poisoning in Children

Lead poisoning occurs when lead (heavy metal found in the earth's crust) is present in high levels in the blood of a person. It is the most common medical problem found in children in United States, where more than 4% kids are said to suffer from lead poisoning. It is important to recognize the presence of lead in a child's body because it can have harmful effects to the central nervous system, bone marrow, circulatory system, gastrointestinal tract, blood forming system and kidney of the child, which would subsequently affect his overall development.

Causes of Lead Poisoning
Children have the tendency to go around and put things in their mouth like peeling paint. This is one of the main causes of lead poisoning. In the early 1990s, paint containing lead were used for painting walls. However, in 1978, the US government realized that lead can cause health hazards to human beings and banned the use of lead while making paints. However, children of families who live in houses or buildings that have been constructed before this year have a high risk of lead poisoning. It has also been found that children born in poor families have higher chance of getting exposed to lead. Lead can also be found in old water pipes and food and juice cans made outside United States of America. Lead poisoning can also occur during renovation and repainting work at home. If a pregnant woman is exposed to lead, it is likely that her child is born with lead in his blood.

Symptoms and Effects
Some of the common symptoms of lead related poisoning in children are headaches, stomach pain, anemia, hair loss, irritability, muscle weakness, hyperactivity, weight loss, seizures, etc.

Parents may also observe certain behavioral problems, difficulty in learning and reading, and low attention span in children. Lead poisoning can have severe effects and can lead to heart diseases, kidney diseases and neurological problems. It can also result to mental retardation and low I.Q. level. There have been cases where lead poisoning proved to be fatal for the child.

Treatment
Pediatricians may not be able to recognize whether a child is affected with lead poisoning easily, as the symptoms of this ailment can occur during the growth of the child, due to some other medical problems. Due to this, it is important that children under the age of 6 should regularly be checked to know the level of lead in their blood, through blood test. It is possible to completely cure a child with lead poisoning through treatment, once it is diagnosed. Usually, oral medicines, named chelators, are given to the child, while sometimes, they are injected for reducing the lead level. Children who have very high level of lead in their blood, would need treatment for a prolonged period of time and would also be put on a special diet.

Prevention
Parents have to take certain precautions to lower chances of lead poisoning to their children. If one is staying in a house, which was built before 1978, it would be beneficial to repaint it. Cleaning the house regularly and removing shoes at the door, after coming from outside will prevent the lead particles from entering the house. Children should be put on a healthy diet, containing high proportions of calcium and iron, such as eggs, milk, cheese, raisins, fruits, potatoes, etc. which helps to keep the lead levels in control, in the child's body.

One must realize that lead poisoning can have harmful and serious affects on the future of his child. Be cautious and careful, and protect your child from the dreadful consequences of lead poisoning.