Treatment for Lead Poisoning
The treatment for childhood lead poisoning, known as chelation,
historically often involved a painful hospital procedure of injections
that causes lead to be excreted in the urine. Recently oral chelation
drugs have been developed that can be administered without hospitalization.
Chelation procedures do not reverse damage already done to the
body and it is thought that lead deposited in the brain tissue
is not removed by this procedure. Further treatment requires
careful clinical and laboratory surveillance of the child to
ensure that there is not continued exposure.
Just as important in treatment of lead poisoning is removal
of the source of the lead. The removal process can be an extreme
danger in itself if the child is on the premises before removal
of all traces of lead is accomplished. The increased paint chips
and dust in the air and on the surface of floors, rugs, furnishings,
and other belongings during removal can result in re-exposure
and raise a child's blood lead level above the pre-chelation
level.
If you think your child has been exposed to lead, see a doctor
and seek legal advice.
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