Anatom3DLead poisoning
Saturnismus (intoxicatio plumbo) · Otrava olovem
What it is
Lead from old paint, pipes, ammunition, some cosmetics and remedies builds up in bone and blood; in children it lowers intelligence permanently.
Symptoms & signs
- In children: learning and behaviour problems, poor growth
- abdominal pain and constipation
- anaemia
- headache and irritability
- in adults: high blood pressure, kidney damage, wrist or foot drop
🚩 Get help if…
- call 112 / 911 now Seizure, drowsiness or confusion
- call 112 / 911 now Child who swallowed a paint chip, fishing weight or bullet with vomiting
- see a doctor soon Tummy pain, constipation and tiredness with a lead source nearby
- see a doctor soon Child losing skills or with poor growth
Where it strikes
Medical treatment
- Blood lead level
- remove the source
- chelation (succimer, EDTA) at high levels
- iron and calcium sufficiency
- public-health investigation of the home
Natural & lifestyle
- Wet-dust old painted surfaces
- run tap water, use filters in old buildings
- check imported remedies and cosmetics
Emerging & experimental
- New oral chelators
- genetic markers of susceptibility
Alternative, off-label & anecdotal
Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.
- Calcium, iron and vitamin C sufficiency — reduce lead uptake in studies early / small studies
- Chlorella and coriander 'detox' — anecdotal; no effect on blood lead in trials of similar products anecdotal / traditional
- Chelation for autism or 'heavy-metal detox' without poisoning — no benefit, and deaths have occurred not confirmed in trials
ICD codes
- ICD-10 T56.0
- ICD-11 NE61 Harmful effects of or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere classified