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Lead Screen |
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Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels at Illinois* |
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2003 |
2004 |
Total children tested |
267,997 |
272,757 |
Lead >= 10mcg/dL |
4.9% |
3.6% |
Lead >= 15 mcg/dL |
1.6% |
1.2% |
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* Data from Childhood Lead Poisoning Surveillance Report, Illinois Department of Public Health |
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Lead affects the body in many ways, If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from |
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- Poor cognitive function and school performance, developmental delay
- Behavior and learning problems such as poor attention, hyperactivity, memory and concentration problems
- Hearing problems
- Poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation
- Headaches, muscle and joint pain
- Persistent vomiting, impaired consciousness or activity, seizures, and coma
- In general, about ¼ to ½ of an "IQ" point is lost, for each 1 mcg/dL increase in BLL during preschool years.
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Definition of high blood lead level ( BLL ) |
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Main sources of lead |
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- Lead-based paints, dust, dirt, gasoline additives, and drinking water system
- Ceramic glazes/dishes or leaded crystal, folk remedies that contains lead
- Imported toys that contains lead
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Risk factors |
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Chronic ingestion of lead-contaminated paint, dust, and soil is the major risk factor |
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- Home, school or day care center that built before 1978
- Any peeling or chipping paint inside / outside of home (windows, walls, ceiling, closets, doors, garages)
- Your home or building has been renovated or repaired in the past 6 months
- Your home near a busy street
- Have brothers, sisters, or playmates with high lead levels
- Use water from the hot water faucet for drinking or cooking
- Live with someone who is exposed to lead on the job and the hobbies.
- Live near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant or other industry that released lead into the air.
- Oral behavior: Your child sucks thumb or fingers, put toys or other objects in his or her mouth
- On a diet low in iron (doesn't eat meat, on a low-iron formula) or calcium (drink < 2 glasses of milk) which increase lead absorption
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Discuss with pediatrician if any risk factor is noticed |
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Lead Screening (blood lead test) |
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Children's blood lead levels tend to increase rapidly from 6 to 12 months of age and reach the peak at 18-24 months of age. Blood tests are recommended by the following schedule at Illinois: |
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For children living in Chicago: |
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Children age 3 and younger: A blood lead test should be obtained at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months or at 9, 15, 24 and 36 months.
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Children 4 through 6 year old with prior blood lead levels <10mcg/dL should have an annual risk assessment. A blood test should be performed if risk increases or if the child exhibits persistent oral behaviors.
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Illinois Dept. of Public Health Lead Risk Assessment Guideline link En Español
Illinois Dept. of Public Health Lead High-Risk ZIP CodesLink
State and Local Lead Program in USA http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead |
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Prevention |
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- Keep paint chips out of the child's reach
- Remove dust from floors, walls, windows and furniture
- Modify the behavior to stop lead dust from getting to your child's mouth
- Use cold flushed water for drinking and cooking which can decrease 60-70% of lead exposure from water pipes.
- Feed child a balanced diet, high in iron and calcium, to decrease lead absorption
- Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating
- Keep doctor's appointments
- Get us tested for lead, even if we seem healthy
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Management Recommendations |
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When we have a capillary (by finger stick) blood lead level of 10mcg/dL or greater, repeat venous blood test to confirm the diagnosis. If the venous blood test is 10mcg/dL or greater, the management will be initiated as the following strategies: |
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- Always assessing the environment to identify and eliminate lead sources
- Always knowing how to prevent lead exposure.
- Always modifying the behavior to reduce hand-to-mouth activity.
- Always ensuring adequate nutrition, providing enough calcium and iron to limit lead absorption.
- Removing us from the source of exposure to lead such as our home, grandmother’s or baby sitter's home.
- Monitoring the early symptoms.
- Repeating venous blood level, performing other lab tests, or giving chelation treatment to increase lead excretion as per our doctors’ order
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