There has been a recent surge in lead poisoning occurrences, with about twenty children reported to have been sick from lead contamination after consuming recalled cinnamon-containing apple sauce products.
According to statistics released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 children aged between 1 to 3 years have suffered from high blood lead levels (BLLs) ranging from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL)—as much as eight times greater than levels.
What symptoms did the affected children show from lead poisoning?
The affected children, who were from 14 states across the U.S., presented various hospitals with the following symptoms, according to reports from the CDC
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Change in activity level
- Anemia
What are the repercussions of lead poisoning?
Becoming intoxicated with lead could result in severe consequences like damages to central nervous system—which could be particularly dangerous to children because their nervous system is not fully developed.
Although children exposed to lead may not exhibit acute reactions, it could lead to learning, behavioral, or cognitive deficits in them.
Lead poisoning in children also has the tendency to increase the risk for high blood pressure and other kinds of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and reproductive issues, later in adulthood.
Diagnosing and treating lead toxicity
Medical practitioners normally recommend finding the sources of lead contamination in your children’s environment and removing them and also feeding diets rich in iron and calcium to affected children.
A blood test; is a diagnostic technology used in identifying lead poisoning and after diagnosis, treatment options like chelation therapy may be recommended by healthcare providers depending on the intensity of the poisoning.