Elevated lead levels in children with nonorganic failure to thrive

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Environmental Health
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Failure to thrive (FTT) in children is often linked to malnutrition.
• Malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia increase the absorption of lead and other heavy metals.
• Population groups with malnutrition often experience lead exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between blood lead levels and nonorganic failure to thrive.
• To compare blood lead levels in children with FTT to a matched control group.

Main Methods:

• Whole blood lead levels were measured in 45 children with nonorganic FTT.
• A control group of 45 age-, race-, and socioeconomically matched children was included.
• Developmental assessment using the Denver Developmental Screening Test was performed.

Main Results:

• Children with FTT exhibited significantly higher mean blood lead levels (22.67 ± 10.29 µg/dL) compared to controls (14.33 ± 5.42 µg/dL).
• FTT children had higher rates of anemia and elevated free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels, potential indicators of lead toxicity.
• Children with FTT showed developmental delays, particularly in language and gross motor skills.

Conclusions:

• Elevated blood lead levels are prevalent in children with nonorganic failure to thrive.
• Lead exposure may be a contributing factor to the intellectual and behavioral deficits observed in FTT.
• The study highlights the clinical toxicity of lead levels previously considered inconsequential.