Pain in abdomen--do not forget lead poisoning.
Lead toxicity has been recognized for thousands of years, and is still around. We encountered 11 patients with lead toxicity in the last two years. All patients had presented with diffuse pain in the abdomen, anemia and mild derangements of liver biochemistry. History of intake of indigenous or herbal medicine for diabetes mellitus or psychosexual disorders was present in eight patients. All of them had elevated blood lead levels. Abdominal pain responded promptly to treatment with chelating agents.
Sood
Ajit
A
Department of Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana 141 001, Punjab. ajitsood10@sify.com
Midha
Vandana
V
Sood
Neena
N
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D010396:Penicillamine