Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(6):759-760
See related article on lead poisoning
What is lead poisoning in children?
Lead poisoning is when there are high levels of lead in your child's blood. High levels of lead in the body can cause problems with the brain, intestines, kidneys, and bone marrow.
What causes it?
Usually it is caused by exposure to dust and old paint chips containing lead. Children also may be exposed through common household products (such as vinyl mini blinds or lead water pipes), toys, candy, or herbal remedies.
How do I know if my child has it?
Some symptoms are belly pain, headaches, vomiting, muscle weakness, trouble paying attention, behavior problems, trouble learning, seizures, impaired growth, hearing loss, and anemia (low levels of iron in the blood).
However, most U.S. children with high blood lead levels do not have any symptoms. This is why your doctor may suggest checking a lead level even when your child is healthy and feels well.
Who should be tested?
Talk with your child's doctor about who should be tested. Children with Medicaid or who may qualify for Medicaid should have their levels checked at one and two years of age. If your house was built before 1950, or was built before 1978 and has been renovated in the past six months, your children should be tested. Children should also be tested if they moved here from another country.
If your neighborhood is listed as a high-risk area by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your child should be tested. Check with your child's doctor or your local health department to find out if your zip code is in a high-risk area.
How is the test done?
Usually a blood sample is taken. Sometimes, a finger-stick sample can be used.
How is it treated?
If lead levels are very high, chelation (key-LAY-shun) therapy is needed. This is when a medicine is given by mouth or with a shot to bind the lead so it can leave the body in the urine or stool, and lower a child's lead level. However, most children do not need this kind of treatment. Finding the source of lead (such as paint, dust, contaminated dirt or toys) and removing it is usually all that is needed. If your child also has anemia, giving him or her iron as prescribed by your child's doctor will also help. See the table for more ways to manage lead poisoning in children.
| Run tap water one to two minutes before filling any container; do not cook with hot tap water (instead, heat up cold water for cooking) |
| Avoid items that are known to contain lead |
| Take off shoes before entering the house; wipe shoes on a doormat |
| Provide a sandbox for play rather than letting children play in the dirt |
| Separate hobby areas of the house from family areas |
| If parents are exposed to lead at work, leave work clothes at work and shower before coming home; store home clothes and work clothes separately |
| Learn about healthy iron-rich diets for your children |
| Regularly clean toys, floors, windows, and other surfaces in the home |
| Follow up with your child's doctor |
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor
American Academy of Family Physicians
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/data/state.htm (to find out if your neighborhood is a high-risk zone for lead)
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/recalls/default.htm (product recalls)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Web site: http://www.cpsc.gov/ (product recalls)
