RESUMEN
The medical records of 58 children admitted with a diagnosis of lead poisoning to the Bustamante Hospital for Children between January 1979 and June 1987 were reviewed. Clinical data consisting of age, sex, source of exposure to lead, presenting symptoms and signs were collected from the records. Laboratory investigations, namely, haemoglobin, peripheral blood smear, blood lead levels and X-rays, were also reviewed. Reports of Public Health Inspectors were used to identify the source of exposure and information was also obtained from parents or guardians
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Lactante , Preescolar , Niño , Masculino , Femenino , Intoxicación por Plomo , Encefalopatías/inducido químicamente , Jamaica , Factores de Edad , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Plomo/sangre , Análisis de Regresión , Vómitos , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Clinical characteristics of 58 patients admitted to Bustamante Hospital for Children with lead poisoning are described. The most common source of lead exposure was backyard battery smelters and most (58%) of the patients were aged below 3 years. Lead toxicity was more severe in younger children as evidenced by higher lead levels and greater incidence of encephalopathy. Patients with lower haemoglobin values had relatively higher lead levels and significantly higher incidence of encephalopathy. Radiological evidence of lead poisoning was present in 96% of our patients demonstrating the usefulness of X-rays in diagnosis, particularly in areas where blood lead levels are not easily available.
Asunto(s)
Encefalopatías/inducido químicamente , Intoxicación por Plomo , Factores de Edad , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Humanos , Lactante , Plomo/sangre , Masculino , Análisis de Regresión , Estudios Retrospectivos , VómitosRESUMEN
Clinical characteristics of 58 patients admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children with lead poisoning are described. The most common source of lead exposure was backyard battery smelters. The majority (58 percent) of the patients were less than three years of age. Lead toxicity was more severe in younger children; they had higher lead levels and a greater incidence of encephalopathy. Patients with lower haemoglobin values had relatively higher lead levels (r= -0.54;p<0.001), and a higher incidence of encephalopathy (p<0.011). Radiology evidence of lead poisoning was present in 96 percent of our patients. This demonstrates the usefulness of X-rays in diagnosis, particularly in areas where blood lead levels are not easily availabel (AU)