(CLEVELAND CLINIC) - National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is underway and doctors with Cleveland Clinic Children's are doing their part to raise awareness in an effort to help prevent childhood exposure.
Pediatricians say when a child is actively being exposed to lead, they may not show any symptoms or they might be vague. For example, trouble sleeping, behavior problems, and feeling tired. But as time goes on, the long-term effects tend to become more noticeable. Doctors say a child may have GI issues, decreased academic performance and IQ, and in severe cases – seizures and even death. Since lead poisoning symptoms can be hard to detect at first, testing is recommended for those who are considered at-risk. Prevention is also just as important.
"We know that if we address the housing stock, if we can repaint the window sills and things like that and reduce the lead exposure, wet mop more in the home, things like that, we can eliminate or at least reduce some of those exposures for kids and help improve their outcomes," explained Dr. Roopa Thakur, Cleveland Clinic Children's.
There are various treatment options available for lead poisoning. However, some long-term symptoms cannot be cured.
