Lead Poisoning: Symptoms and Treatment
Lead poisoning occurs when your body accumulates too much lead over the course of months or even years. While more common in the developing world, the illness still exists in parts of the developed world, especially in areas with dated infrastructure, water pipes, and paint.
Lead itself is a naturally occurring metal, and too much exposure may damage organs and the brain, as well as cause behavioral and neurological issues, developmental delays, kidney impairment, and more. In severe cases, lead poisoning may prove fatal. The longer this health problem is unaddressed, the more severe its effects are on the human body.
Risk Factor for Lead Poisoning
There are certain factors that may indicate if you’re at risk for developing lead poisoning. For starters, if you work certain jobs, such as in stained glass manufacturing or furniture refinishing, you may end up exposed to high levels of lead paint. Although provided with safety equipment by their employers, these don’t always guarantee the safety of the employees. This is especially true for employees who are still a neophyte in the mentioned industries. Accidents can always happen in the workplace, and when dealing with large amounts of lead, this safety equipment will not safeguard you from the dangers of lead.
Age is another risk factor. Children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to the dangerous effects of lead and are more likely to suffer developmental delays or mental disorders. Why? Because the bodies of younger children can absorb lead easier than older children and adults. Aside from this, children are usually innocent that they still can’t differentiate which among their surroundings are safe or deadly. Also, children are naturally curious that they tend to touch or get near any object that catches their attention. When this object happens to be lead and the kid touches or goes near it, it won’t be long before their bodies will react negatively to the metal. Moreover, children’s immune systems are weaker than adults, making them more prone to the dangers of lead.
Causes of Lead Poisoning
There are many causes of lead poisoning, including outdated infrastructure and pipes, along with the following:
- Drinking water from lead pipes
- Playing or working in soil contaminated with lead paint
- Occupational exposure
- Using imported ceramic dinnerware
- Using imported toys or other goods from countries that don’t have lead restrictions
Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
If you have lead poisoning, some of the first signs of the disease are more discrete and may be mistaken for other conditions. These symptoms include the following:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Short-term memory issues
- Poor concentration
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination
- Presence of the Burton line, or a blue line along your gums
- Neuropathy
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Constipation
- Slurred speech
Treatment of Lead Poisoning
If you get a lead poisoning diagnosis, your doctor may recommend chelation therapy, a form of treatment that involves using chelating agents to remove lead from the body through urine. It is more commonly used in severe cases of lead poisoning and is typically administered intravenously or orally. Some of the most common chelating agents your doctor may prescribe include the following:
- Calcium Disodium
- Dimercaprol
- Dimercaptosuccinic acid
- D-penicillamine
Diagnosis of Lead Poisoning
If you think you may have lead poisoning, schedule a visit with your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Never self-diagnose as this can only do more harm than good. Lead poisoning is a serious health problem that should be diagnosed by a medical professional. A medical professional will also provide accurate information about lead poisoning and what you can do to manage or treat its effects on the body.
During your visit, your doctor may collect samples for lab tests or perform imaging tests to check your lead levels. However, it’s important to note that a little lead in your body is okay. In fact, the following levels are acceptable:
- Less than 5 μg/dL for children
- Less than 25 μg/dL for adults
If your levels are high, your doctor may also perform a blood film examination to help determine how long you’ve been exposed to lead.
Prognosis of Lead Poisoning
Adults tend to recover from lead exposure easier than children. However, children have a less favorable prognosis when exposed to lead over a long period of time. After long-term exposure without treatment, children are likely to experience long-term health problems, including nerve and muscle damage.
Complications of Lead Poisoning
If you or someone you know has lead poisoning, you may experience the following complications:
- Kidney damage
- Hypertension
- Hearing loss
- Male infertility
- Miscarriage
- Preterm birth
- Brain inflammation
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Lead poisoning is a serious health condition that can have adverse effects on your health and safety. If you’re job or lifestyle requires you to come in contact with lead, make sure that you’re careful every single day.
Drinking water, for example, might be a common practice, but when the water you’re drinking comes from lead pipes, this common practice can become the reason why your health and safety will be put at risk.
For you to continue living your life free from the dangers of lead, get to know more about this metal, and notice signs of poisoning. The sooner you check yourself for lead poisoning, the better the chances you’ll have in surviving it.
