Which health conditions are associated with lead poisoning in a preschooler
Paint and soil are the most common sources of lead. But it can also be found in water, ceramics, spices, and medications. Show
Young children, especially toddlers, can get damage to their brain from lead poisoning. Lead is a metal that is naturally found in the ground. It was used for centuries to make things like bullets, paint, pottery, pipes, and other everyday items. Because lead was used in so many things, people can be exposed to lead even today. Lead exposure can affect people’s health, but it’s especially toxic to a child’s brain. Fortunately, lead poisoning is preventable. Read on to learn more about lead poisoning and about how to keep your child safe from lead exposure. What is lead poisoning, and is my child at risk?Lead poisoning occurs when someone has a high level of lead in their body. At a blood lead level equal to or greater than 3.5 mcg/dL, healthcare providers get worried. But there is no safe lead level. In a perfect world, everyone would have a blood lead level of 0. Lead usually gets into the body through the mouth. It can’t get absorbed through the skin, and you don’t breathe it in. Children are at a greater risk for lead poisoning than adults because they put a lot of things in their mouths and may accidentally eat lead. Why is lead poisoning so dangerous for children?Lead causes brain damage and, since children’s brains are still growing and developing, they are at increased risk for lead poisoning. Even with blood lead levels of 5 mcg/dL to 10 mcg/dL, children can develop:
At higher lead levels, children can also develop:
At what age are children at risk?Because they’re constantly putting things in their mouths, younger kids — between the ages of 9 months and 3 years — are more at risk than older kids or adults. So, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for lead poisoning during the toddler and preschool years. What are the most common sources of lead?Lead is a naturally occurring metal that had multiple uses, so it ended up in a lot of products. Lead takes thousands of years to break down naturally. So, even though lead isn’t used in many products today, we’re still living with the consequences of lead products from the past. Let’s look at some common products that contain lead today. Lead-based paintLead paint is the most common cause of lead poisoning. Lead was added to paint until 1978. If you live in a home built before 1978, your house probably contains lead paint. Over time, paint breaks down and starts to crack. When this happens, it creates dust. You can’t always see this dust because the particles are so small, but it falls on surfaces and floors. Children and toddlers end up eating the dust by putting their hands or toys in their mouths after playing on the floor or touching surfaces. While eating old chipped paint will cause lead poisoning, many kids aren’t exposed this way. They are exposed a little bit at a time to lead dust. Paint on high-friction surfaces, like window sills and door frames, breaks down the fastest. Paint exposed to weather, like on porches, also breaks down fast. Leaded gasolineLead was added to gasoline until the 1990s. Exhaust fumes from cars and buses contained lead. These fumes landed in the soil and deposited lead into the ground, where it remains today. Children are exposed to lead in soil when they play outside. While some children eat dirt, the dirt and dust that gets on their hands and toys is what ends up in their mouths. Only bare dirt is a hazard. Dirt with grass, mulch, or other coverings is safe because kids can’t get to it. Lead soil can also be tracked into homes by shoes or pets. Imported itemsThe U.S. has strict regulations on how much lead can be in everyday items. But other countries do not have such rules. When people bring items into the U.S. from another country, there’s no guarantee that the items won’t contain lead. Kids have been lead-poisoned from things like:
Hobbies or occupational exposureSome people have hobbies or jobs that include working with items that contain lead. Adults working with these items will be exposed to lead-dust. They can bring home this dust and accidentally expose it to their kids. People who work in the following jobs or have the following hobbies may be exposed to lead:
Lead pipesIn the past, pipes for plumbing were made from lead. Over time, lead leaches out of the pipes and gets into the water, like it did in Flint, Michigan. Kids who live in older homes and drink tap water can be exposed to lead this way, too. When should my child be checked for lead poisoning?The American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children get a blood test for lead at ages 12 and 24 months if:
You can look up whether your child needs a blood test on your state health department’s website. Most children in the U.S. will meet one of the above criteria. In addition, children should be tested at least once if:
Tests for lead poisoningA simple blood test can check for lead poisoning. There are two different types: 1) Venous test: This is a regular blood draw from the arm that is usually done at a lab. The results will take 2 to 3 days to come back. This test is very accurate. 2) Capillary test: This is a finger stick that is done in the healthcare provider’s office. Your healthcare provider will get the result right away, but this test is less accurate. If results show high lead levels, your child needs a venous test to make sure the results are accurate. What is a normal level of lead in the blood?There is no “normal level” lead level. The body doesn’t need lead to function. Ideally, we’d have no lead in our bodies at all. But the CDC’s current reference level is 3.5 mcg/dL, which is the cutoff for a concerning lead level. What should I do if my child has lead poisoning?If your child’s lead level is 3.5 mcg/dL or higher, there’s a lot you can do to help bring down the level:
If you live in an older home or work with lead products, you can apply these tips to keep your child from getting lead poisoning, too. How is lead poisoning treated?The most important thing to do when a child is lead-poisoned is to figure out what caused it. Once you know what caused the exposure, you want to remove the cause safely. Your local health department can help you with lead abatement, which is a process where lead paint, pipes, and soil get removed. Abatement should be done only by specially licensed professionals. Never try to do abatement work on your own. Your health department can give you a list of certified professionals. Children with lead levels that are 45 mcg/dL or higher need chelation therapy with special medications. Children who need chelation usually need to be admitted to the hospital. Chelation therapy can have serious side effects, and it doesn’t reverse the effects of lead on the brain. This is why it is used only when lead levels are very high. The bottom lineLead poisoning is a common problem in children because of the presence of lead in paint, soil, and water. Lead poisoning can cause harm to a child’s brain development. There’s a lot you can do to keep your child safe from lead exposure, especially in your home. Your local health department is a great place for resources and tips to keep your home safe from lead. GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines. Was this page helpful?thumb_up_outlinedthumb_down_outlined Subscribe and save.Get prescription saving tips and more from GoodRx Health. Enter your email to sign up.By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx. Which health conditions are associated with lead poisoning in a preschooler quizlet?Leads to:. Learning and behavioral problems.. High Blood Pressure.. Anemia.. Mental Retardation.. Kidney Failure.. Death.. Which health conditions are associated with lead poisoning?Exposure to high levels of lead may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Very high lead exposure can cause death.
What kinds of disorders are linked to lead exposure?High lead exposure was also linked to a modestly greater long-term risk for developing drug, tobacco and alcohol addiction, alongside depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mania, and/or schizophrenia.
Which is the most frequent source of lead poisoning in children?Young children also tend to put their hands or other objects into their mouths. This is why the most common source of lead exposure in young children is lead dust that they swallow after placing their lead-contaminated hands or other objects in their mouths.
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