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Lead Poisoning Treatment
The treatment for childhood lead poisoning, known as chelation,
historically often involved a painful hospital procedure of
injections that causes lead to be excreted in the urine. Recently
oral chelation drugs have been developed that can be administered
without hospitalization. Chelation procedures do not reverse
damage already done to the body and it is thought that lead
deposited in the brain tissue is not removed by this procedure.
Further treatment requires careful clinical and laboratory
surveillance of the child to ensure that there is not continued
exposure.
Just as important in treatment of lead poisoning is removal
of the source of the lead. The removal process can be an extreme
danger in itself if the child is on the premises before removal
of all traces of lead is accomplished. The increased paint
chips and dust in the air and on the surface of floors, rugs,
furnishings, and other belongings during removal can result
in re-exposure and raise a child's blood lead level above
the pre-chelation level.
If you think your child has been exposed to lead, see a doctor
and seek legal advice.
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