Lead poisoning as a result of infertility treatment using herbal remedies.
BACKGROUND
Lead poisoning remains a major problem in our society due to the lack of awareness of its ill effects among the clinical community. The non-availability of blood lead levels at primary health centers results in many lead-poisoned cases being treated symptomatically, without the diagnosis being sought.


METHODS
We report a case here, presenting with colicky abdominal pain receiving symptomatic treatment initially; lead poisoning was confirmed following the estimation of blood lead levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The consumption of unbranded herbal medicines as a causative factor for lead poisoning was confirmed by high lead content in the medicines. Surely, this demands public health programs to disseminate strategies to the medical personnel about the clinical implication of lead poisoning, as well as the general public for awareness and to prevent lead poisoning.
Geraldine
Menezes
M
National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India (NRCLPI), Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, St. John's Medical College, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560 034 Karnataka, India. gere1@rediffmail.com
Herman
D'souza Sunil
DS
Venkatesh
Thuppil
T
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D000328:Adult; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000032:analysis
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D007854:Lead