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A presumptive case of lead poisoning in a brass-worker's child
1Department of Paediatrics, MP Shah Medical College, Jamnagar.
Insights
A one-year-old child developed severe symptoms, including vomiting and convulsions, due to lead poisoning. Environmental exposure from a parent
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Lead poisoning is a serious public health concern, particularly in children.
- Occupational exposure to lead can lead to household contamination and secondary poisoning.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing lead toxicity.
Observation:
- A one-year-old male presented with vomiting, irritability, hematemesis, melena, and seizures.
- Physical examination revealed exaggerated reflexes and coma.
- Blood analysis showed basophilic stippling, and X-rays revealed lead lines in bones.
Findings:
- The child's father worked in a brass industry with substantial lead content in alloys.
- Lead dust contamination on the child's hands, transferred from the father's clothing or person, was the likely source.
- The child's habit of putting hands in the mouth led to ingestion and poisoning.
Implications:
- This case highlights the risk of secondary lead exposure in children through parental occupational contact.
- It emphasizes the importance of stringent safety measures in lead-handling industries to prevent household contamination.
- Public health initiatives should focus on educating families about potential environmental toxins associated with parental occupations.
Abstract:
A one-year-old male child was admitted with the complaints of vomiting and irritability for 4 days, haematemesis and melaena for one day and had generalised tonic convulsions on the day of admission. Examination revealed exaggerated reflexes with group II coma. Blood film showed basophilic shippling. Straight x-ray showed lead lines in the metaphyses of ribs, humerii, scapulae, iliac crests and upper ends of femurs. The boy's father was an employee of brass industry where brass alloys used cotained lead in substantial amount. A presumptive case of lead poisoning (as diagnosed) was treated symptomatically. Chelating agent was called for but the patient left. In the present case the hands of the child were contaminated with lead dust brought home by his father either in person or in clothings. The child used his hands constantly in his mouth to get poisoned by lead.