What are the Symptoms of Lead Poisoning?

QUESTION: We are terribly worried, as recently the community was put on
notice about lead in our water and the damage it can do to your body. Can
you discuss lead poisoning so we will all be able to recognize its symptoms?
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ANSWER: I can and will, but recognizing the symptoms of lead poisoning is not
always easy, and can easily be confused with other ailments. In the adult,
the symptoms are slow to develop and do so over a period of several weeks.
They can include headache, vague abdominal discomfort which increases and
develops into colicky abdominal pain, accompanied by vomiting and
constipation. Headache is frequent, as well as loss of appetite, and
frequently a metallic taste in the mouth. The appearance of symptoms in
children is much more rapid and acute, developing over a period of 4 to 5 days
with persistent and forceful vomiting, changes in gait, changes in
consciousness leading to seizure, finally to coma. When exposure to lead is
halted, the symptoms may disappear without treatment, only to return if
exposure to lead recurs. Specific tests exist to determine the amount of lead
in the blood (blood lead concentration-PbB) as well as sensitive screening
test which are particularly useful in testing at-risk children. Ordinary
blood counts can reveal the disease when the the white cells display a picture
called "basophilic stippling". Even x-rays are helpful as they reveal lead in
the bones. Treatment for lead intoxication involves the use of chelating
agents. A chelating agent has the ability to bind metals to it, eliminating
its toxic effects and clearing the lead from the body, through the kidneys
in the urine. The use of such powerful chemicals requires skill and careful
attention to the function of the kidneys during the process. For this reason
chelating agents are never given as preventive medication to patients without
symptoms. Of course, here as in all medicine, preventive effort should be
begun, directed at eliminating the source of the lead, from paint,
contaminated foods, folk medicines containing lead, burning lead painted wood,
and water that has come into contact with lead plumbing.