injuries and poisoning
Lead Poisoning
Treatment of Lead Poisoning
Stopping exposure to lead Sometimes whole-bowel irrigation Sometimes chelation therapy and mineral supplements Treatment consists of stopping exposure to lead and removing accumulated lead from the body. If an abdominal x-ray shows lead chips, a special solution ofpolyethylene glycolis given by mouth or through a stomach tube to flush out the contents of the stomach and intestines (a process called whole-bowel irrigation). Doctors remove lead from the body by giving drugs that bind with the lead ( Chelation Therapy ), allowing it to pass into the urine. All drugs that remove lead work slowly and can cause serious side effects. Succimeris one drug used in chelation therapy. People with mild lead poisoning are givensuccimerby mouth. People with more serious lead poisoning are treated in the hospital with injections of chelating drugs, such asdimercaprol,succimer, andedetate calcium disodium. Because chelating drugs also can remove beneficial minerals, such as zinc,copper, and iron, from the body, the person often is given supplements of these minerals. Even after treatment, many children with encephalopathy develop some degree of permanent brain damage. Kidney damage is also sometimes permanent. 