1 / 18

Understanding the Importance of Lead Levels in Children: Symptoms, Effects, Testing, and Treatment

Explore why lead levels are crucial in children, symptoms of lead poisoning, testing methods, and treatment options, including specialists and medications used. Learn about the Louisiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

lovey
Download Presentation

Understanding the Importance of Lead Levels in Children: Symptoms, Effects, Testing, and Treatment

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Morning Report July 19th 2010

  2. Why are lead levels important? • 250,000 US children aged 1-5 years have a lead level >10

  3. Where do I find information?

  4. At risk • Children <6yo • Rapid growth • Absorption of more lead • Poverty • Minority groups • Especially immigrants • Occupationally exposed parents • Old house

  5. Symptoms • Children with lead poisoning often have no symptoms • A child can be poisoned and show no outward signs • Symptoms: diarrhea, stomach cramps, lethargy, headache, clumsiness, agitation, vomiting, or seizures in some severe cases

  6. Toxic Effects • Learning disabilities • Decreased growth • Hyperactivity • Impaired hearing • Even brain damage

  7. Testing • Children at ages 1 and 2 years of age • Children between 3 and 6 years of age if not previously tested. • Children or other family members who have been exposed to high levels of lead • Blood lead measurement • Not x rays • Not hair samples

  8. LA Dept of Health • LCLPPP • Louisiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program • Identifies increased levels • Care Coordination • Environmental Inspection • Community and Professional Education • Handouts, Links, Prevention Plan, etc.

  9. Treatment • Involve specialists • Pediatrician • Poison control • AAP Executive committee • >45 • Succimer • “rotten egg” smell, abd distress, transient rash, increased liver enzymes, neutropenia • >70 or allergic to succimer • EDTA and hospitalize

More Related