pica and Central-Nervous-System-Diseases

Topics: Adult; Air Pollution; Animals; Anura; Calcium; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chelating Agents; Child, Preschool; Cyprinidae; Edetic Acid; Environmental Pollution; Female; Food Contamination; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hair; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Industrial Waste; Infant; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Mass Screening; Mice; Pica; Porphyrins; Rats; Saliva; United States; Vehicle Emissions; Water Pollution, Chemical; Water Supply

Topics: Adult; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chicago; Child; Child, Preschool; Edetic Acid; Environmental Exposure; Female; Fetal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gingival Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Neuromuscular Diseases; New York City; Ohio; Penicillamine; Pentetic Acid; Pica; Porphyrins; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications

Blood lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 82 children suffering from various neurological disorders (cerebral palsy 42, seizure disorders 35, acute encephalopathy of unknown origin 5) and in 28 healthy children, aged 1 to 12 years. Mean blood lead levels were 11.96 +/- 10.97 micrograms/dl in control children and 19.30 +/- 17.65 micrograms/dl in children with neurological disorders. A significant number of control children as well as those who had neurological disorders were found to have blood lead concentrations of > or = 10 micrograms/dl and > or = 20 micrograms/dl, the cut-off limits for lead poisoning and medical evaluation, respectively. Blood lead levels were, statistically, elevated in children with cerebral palsy compared to controls. Children with pica behaviour exhibited higher blood lead concentrations.

Topics: Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalomyelitis; Female; Humans; India; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Pica; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Seizures

Subacute lead encephalopathy due a chronic poisoning was present in a 6 year-old child. Neurologic features (coma, seizures, CSF abnormalities) began after 2 weeks of vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation. Diagnosis was confirmed by studies of porphyrin metabolism. Lead poisoning following pica in childhood has rarely been reported in France. Its pathogenesis, main features, diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.

Topics: Central Nervous System Diseases; Child; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Male; Pica; Porphyrins