Lead In Children: A Case Study

(Campbell, 2016). Two giants in childhood lead poisoning research and advocacy, Dr. Philip Landrigan and Dr. David Bellinger, summarize the adverse effects of lead very completely, yet succinctly: “Lead is a devastating poison. It damages children’s brains, erodes intelligence, diminishes creativity and the ability to weigh consequences and make good decisions, impairs language skills, shortens attention span, and predisposes to hyperactive and aggressive behavior. Lead exposure in early childhood is linked to later increased risk for dyslexia and school failure.”(p. 3).

Similarly, in the article, The Need for Vigilance: the Persistence of Lead Poisoning in Children published in Pediatrics, a peer-review journal, the authors write the article with the intent of reiterating the need for medical professionals to remain vigilant with the accurate treatment of lead poisoning. The article in Pediatrics is written by doctors for clinical professionals and is based upon a report of "a case of lead poisoning associated with ingestion of a toy necklace in a 4-year-old child" (Florin, T., Brent, R., &

Potential lead contamination from drinking water presents a significant health risk. Recent examples of this lead contamination include Flint, Michigan, a city that experienced a large increase in the number of people, especially children, who exhibited symptoms of lead poisoning. A March 9, 2016 article in the Washington Post reported data from the Environmental Protection Agency that indicated approximately 350 schools and day-care centers across the US failed lead tests approximately 470 times between 2012 and 2015. Seven years ago, according to the Post, a study concluded that hundreds of young children in Washington, DC, had potentially damaging amounts of lead in their blood due to contamination in the city’s tap water. The toxin can cause permanent developmental and behavioral issues.

At the age of just a year old, Reginald Cureton, a Detroit middle schooler, was just a year old, a blood test proved he had four times the level of lead in his blood that was concluded as lead poisoning. His parents were baffled and doctors said it would alter his brain development and hinder his skills as a child. Reginald's elementary school suggested numerous times that he repeat the third grade. This lead his parents to do test him for any mental stagnancies and he was diagnosed with ADHD. Now in middle school, Reginald and his family's fight against lead- exposure is continued and as strong as ever as they are taking extra precautions to reduce his lead exposure in any way possible (Lead-Exposure Problems Spotlighted in Detroit) . Unfortunately

Everyone is susceptible to the dangers of lead contamination; but children are especially at risk. High levels of lead in children can lead to brain and kidney damage and damage to red blood cells. Low levels of lead can also cause problems that are less life-threatening but can be just as devastating, like low IQ, hearing and language impairment, reduced attention span and poor school performance. In adults, exposure to lead can lead to an increased risk for high blood pressure. Pregnant women and their fetuses are extremely vulnerable to lead. In women, lead increases the risk of infertility and miscarriages; in fetuses, lead can cause low birth weight, premature birth and impaired mental and physical development.

There are multiple reasons to expect that a person's lead exposure as a child could affect

Lead poisoning in children was first discovered in 1890 in Queensland, Australia. The lead source was not identified until 1904, when a researcher traced it to the paint used on railings and verandahs. The first discovery of lead poisoning in the United States (with a traceable source) was in 1914; the child had chewed the paint off of his crib. At this time they linked lead poisoning as a cause of convulsions in children. As research progressed and more children were found with high lead levels, symptoms caused by lead were expanded to include lead meningitis, acute encephalopathy, intellectual dullness, reduced consciousness, seizures, comas, and death (Chisholm, 1982).

Children with developing bodies are especially vulnerable because their rapidly developing nervous systems are particularly sensitive to the effects of lead. Blood lead levela exceeding 60 ug/dl causes brain swelling and hemorrhaging. Almost all children in the United States have been exposed to lead one point in their lives. Common sources included lead paint and lead contained water

Now, what are the causes of lead poisoning? As stated before, the ingestion and inhalation of items that contain leads are the causes of lead of poisoning. Lead is often found in ceramic toys, food, and water. When put in the mouth, it will store in teeth and bones, which will cause adverse effects throughout the child’s body. Lead can be inhaled in various ways. For example, it most often occur when there is a renovation or remodeling of homes. Also, the occupation of the client can indicate another source of lead entering the body. If the client is a construction worker, painter, jewelry maker, radiator repair worker, and mining, they have a higher risk of inhaling lead. Once large amount of lead has been inhaled or ingested, there will be substantial changes in the child’s cognitive behavior, psychomotor, and attitude. First, for the cognitive behavior, some notable characteristics are developmental delays, lowered IQ levels, reading skill deficits, visual-spatial problems, visual-motor problems, learning disabilities, and lower academic success. Second, to demonstrate that the child’s psychomotor skills has been compromised due to lead poisoning, the parent will state to their health care

Here are the symptoms of lead poisoning in children: developmental delay, irritability, learning difficulties, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Furthermore, they could also deal with fatigue and sluggishness, and hearing loss as well. If your child deals with more that 2 of these symptoms, then you definitely need to go to see a doctor as soon as possible, because he might deal with lead poisoning.

Lead, a naturally occurring metal and can be used in almost everything. It can cause serious health issues if it is exposed for a long time, particularly in children as they are more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead in their bodies. Each year, in the United States 310,000 of 1- to 5-year age group are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, which can cause a wide range of symptoms. (1)

Exposure to lead is more widespread than people may think because the most common source of lead exposure is through the environment. One example of this exposure is lead based paint that has been chipped away from the interior of a house. As the paint wears off over time, it will contaminate the dust in the house. Lead exposure is also frequently found in contaminated food and water, more often in impoverished areas. When exposed, lead usually enters the body when we inhale air, and then is completely absorbed throughout the entire respiratory tract. Lead can also enter through the bloodstream, and if it is not immediately excreted, it will be retained in the blood, soft tissues, bones, and teeth. Children are more likely to be at risk for

One of the main issues related to lead exposure is the risk of brain development problems. This is something that is especially possible in children because their brains are still developing. According to the Mayo Clinic, irreversible damage could occur if a child is exposed to lead.

Lead is harmful to humans interferes with the action of particular enzymes in the body. It inhibits the synthesis of haemoglobin and interferes with energy production by cellular mitochondria. Long-
term overexposure can cause numerous health problems, including anaemia, nervous system disorders, mental retardation, kidney disease and decreased fertility. Muscle pain, mid-abdominal pain, convulsion and nausea are some symptoms of acute lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body over a long time. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Lead poison causes serious damage to physical and mental development. Children with lead poison have very low IQ level. Main source of lead poison is old paints. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning are developmental delay, learning difficulties, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggishness and fatigue, and abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, seizures and hearing loss. Symptoms may not present until high level of lead is accumulated in blood.