[Use of kohl and severe lead poisoning in Brussels].
The authors report the observation of lead poisoning in a young Moroccan woman, which was caused by prolonged use of a khol made of lead sulphide. Khol is a black eye make-up used since Ancient Egypt. Clinically, this poisoning presented with abdominal crampoid pain, encephalopathy (manifested as anxiety and irritability), a Burtonian gingival border and microcytic sideropenic anaemia. Emergency chelate treatment permitted to improve clinical state and to decrease blood levels (initial blood concentration: 490 micrograms/dl; concentration six weeks after treatment: 49 micrograms/dl). The interest of such a case is recognizing, in French speaking regions, of a public health problem, largely ignored, although real, considering the high lead concentrations found in a majority of kohls available in Brussels and this very old cultural practice among Muslim populations.
Bruyneel
M
M
H.I.S., Site Etterbeek-lxelles Service de Médecine Interne Rue Jean Paquot 63 1050 Bruxelles.
De Caluwé
J P
JP
des Grottes
J M
JM
Collart
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013440:Sulfides / Q000506:poisoning*
D003358:Cosmetics; D013440:Sulfides; C018391:lead sulfide; D007854:Lead