family » health they doing the things they should be doing? Are they making progress from the previous milestones in the way we expect? Have they lost any milestones that they used to have?”
ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CLINIC, OTHER SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN INCLUDE: + Learning difficulties + Irritability + Loss of appetite + Weight loss + Sluggishness and fatigue + Abdominal pain + Vomiting + Constipation + Hearing loss In cases of very high exposure, it can cause seizures, coma and death. “You don’t want symptoms to occur,” said Bhambhani, urging parents to have their children tested if there is any possibility of lead exposure. “The earliest changes you might see in a child, depending on the age they were exposed to lead, may be delays in
speech and language development. On the extreme end, if lead levels are extremely high, it can cause brain damage and even death. . It’s a very broad variation in the way children can present, and it all depends on the levels that they have.” Q: ARE EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF LEAD EXPOSURE OK? A: No. There is no safe level of lead in the body. “Lead is a neurotoxin and affects the growing brain,” Bhambhani said. “That is why it is so critical that these children are tested for lead levels and if the lead levels are high, then appropriate interventions are in place as soon as possible.” Q: WHAT CAN I DO IF MY CHILD’S BLOOD TEST SHOWS HE OR SHE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD? A: “First and foremost,” Bhambani said, “is to remove the source of lead.” “Everything we know about the effects of lead in children is that prevention is, by far, our No. 1 goal because once the damage has been done, there’s not been research to show you can undo it,” Swindell said. “Then, our next step is to halt
& safety
any additional exposure and progression of any effects. And then, the third thing is to buffer those effects as much as we can by optimizing the child’s development in every other way making sure they have good access to health care, and access to good nutrition.” Q: CAN A SPECIAL DIET HELP? A: Yes, a low-fat diet that is high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C can make a difference. “A diet that contains enough calcium and other trace minerals,” helps to ensure less lead is metabolized, Bhambhani said. “A number of these children eat a lot of fried foods. We ask them to stay away from fried foods. It’s hard to do, but we adhere to it. The reason is that fat sits in the stomach for a long time, and there’s more time for the lead to be absorbed.” Q: HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHEN TO TAKE MY CHILD TO THE DOCTOR ABOUT POTENTIAL LEAD EXPOSURE? A: “Don’t wait. If you have a concern, or if there is a possibility of lead exposure in the environment, talk to your doctor about it.” Swindell said.
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