What are the symptoms of high lead levels in children

If a child suffers from lead poisoning, it is extremely harmful to the child, which is mainly divided into symptomatic lead poisoning and asymptomatic lead poisoning. It will cause the child to have poor concentration, slow physical reaction, and sometimes drowsiness, motor dysfunction and other symptoms. It also has a great impact on the child's digestive system, such as frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc.

1. Nervous system:

Irritability, hyperactivity, short attention span, aggressive behavior, slow reaction times, lethargy, movement disorders. Severe cases may include mania, delirium (a temporary neurological disorder characterized by confusion, bewilderment, incoherent speech, restlessness, agitation, and often delusions or hallucinations), visual impairment, and cranial nerve paralysis. When the blood lead level is around 1000 ug/L (4.826umol/L), symptoms of lead encephalopathy such as headache, vomiting, convulsions, coma, and even death may occur.

2. Digestive system:

Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc.

3. Blood system:

Microcytic hypochromic anemia, etc.

4. Cardiovascular system:

Hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias.

5. Urinary system:

In the early stage, patients may present with aminoaciduria, glucosuria, and hyperphosphaturia; in the late stage, patients may present with azotemia and other manifestations of renal failure.

Subclinical lead poisoning mainly affects children's intellectual behavioral development and physical growth. Due to the lack of clinical manifestations sufficient to attract the attention of parents and pediatricians, it is often easily ignored. By the time it is discovered, the toxic effects of lead are difficult to reverse. Its hidden and progressive pathological characteristics make it more harmful to children's health. Therefore, it is the focus of research on childhood lead poisoning.