Lead poisoning in a child with a gunshot wound

Lead poisoning has infrequently resulted from gunshot wounds with retained lead particles in adults. This has not been previously found in children. The case of an 8-year-old boy in whom lead poisoning developed soon after a gunshot wound is reported. The child had no symptoms directly related to lead poisoning, but he received chelation therapy. The case demonstrates the need to consider lead poisoning in children with retained particles following gunshot wounds.