Blood lead levels in children with encephalopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLL i.e blood lead >10 micrograms/dL, Centers Disease Control criteria) in children with encephalopathy.


METHODS
Hospital.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
100 children, 49 with encephalopathy and 51 consecutive hospital controls.


METHODS
Blood lead levels, demographics, clinical, environmental correlates and residual neurological sequel or death at discharge.


RESULTS
42 (encephalopathy) and 49 (hospital controls) children were available for analysis. The overall (n=91) mean blood lead was 7.88+/-10.44 micrograms/dL (range 0.07-67.68 micrograms/dL). The predictors of EBLL were presence of wasting (P<0.03), anemia (P<0.04), use of surma (P< 0.02), recent removal of house paint (P<0.01) or recently repainted (P<0.01). The mean blood lead levels were significantly higher (P<0.01) in patients of encephalopathy (12.18+/- 13.90 micrograms/dL) than in controls (4.19+/- 2.84 micrograms/dL). EBLL was present in 3/17 (17.6%) patients with infective encephalopathy and in 18/25 (72%) with non-infective encephalopathy. The proportion of children with residual neurological sequelae, or death increased when associated with EBLL (0 to 21%, and 69% to 100% respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Children hospitalized with encephalopathy have elevated blood lead levels.
Lata Medical Research Foundation, Nagpur, India.
Archana
A
Patel
Ambarish
A
Athawale
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D020264:Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology
D007854:Lead