$Unique_ID{BRK01436}
$Pretitle{Accidents, Poisoning, and Violence}
$Title{How Would One Know if They Have Lead Poisoning?}
$Subject{lead poisoning symptoms treatment}
$Volume{O-1}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How Would One Know if They Have Lead Poisoning?


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QUESTION:  Here are a few questions I would love to see answered.  How would
you know if you have lead poisoning, what are the signs?  Is there any special
therapy that can leach out the metal?  I'm asking because apparently my water
pipes have been leaking lead into our system for years.

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ANSWER:  There are two types of lead poisoning (also known as plumbism), a
"high-dose" form from eating paint chips containing lead, swallowing a lead
containing object, eating contaminated foods, breathing in fumes of leaded
gasoline, or other occupational exposure.  "Low-dose" may result from exposure
to lead-contaminated dust or soil.  In adults the symptoms develop slowly over
several weeks, with headaches, metallic taste in the mouth loss of appetite,
abdominal pains with vomiting and constipation.  Personality changes may occur
but seizures are rare.  In children there is a very different picture.  After
a period of irritability and reduced play activity which may last for a week
or more, the symptoms develop rapidly over a 1 to 5 day period and include
persistent and forceful vomiting, seizures, changes in the conscious state and
finally coma.  The diagnosis is made by measuring the amount of lead found in
the blood or urine.  Treatment using chelating agents, dimercaprol (BAL) and
edetate calcium sodium (CaEDTA), which bind to the metal and are then excreted
by the kidney can lower the lead levels quite rapidly but the long term
treatment really means removing the source of the lead exposure.  If you
suspect you have been exposed, a blood test can provide you with a definitive
answer.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
