Serious lead poisoning in childhood: still a problem after a century.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a series of patients with clinically significant lead poisoning.


METHODS
A case series of nine patients with lead poisoning who required inpatient management, identified through a Clinical Toxicology Service.


RESULTS
Nine children presented with clinically significant lead poisoning. The median serum lead was 2.5 micro mol/L (range 1.38-4.83). Eight of the children were exposed to lead-based paint, with seven due to dust from sanded lead paint during house renovations. Serial blood determinations suggested re-exposure in four of the patients, and in one of these patients the re-exposure was from a different source of lead. Eight of the patients required chelation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Serious lead poisoning continues to occur and there appears to be complacency regarding the hazard posed by lead paint in old houses.
Reith
D M
DM
Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. david.reith@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
O'Regan
P
P
Bailey
C
C
Acworth
J
J
D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010150:Paint / Q000506:poisoning; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013648:Tasmania
D004391:Dust