Citation

Rolston DDK. Trop Med Health 2011; 39(4): 127-132.

Affiliation

Department of General Internal Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville PA 17822, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine)

DOI

10.2149/tmh.2011-01

PMID

22438702

PMCID

PMC3289276

Abstract

Lead-containing cooking utensils, sometimes used in South Indian homes, and indigenous medications, widely used in India and increasingly in developed countries, may be responsible for lead intoxication in adults. We report chronic lead poisoning in five adult patients. Not all patients had abdominal colic, while dramatic weight loss, depression and encephalopathy were seen. Once recognized, lead poisoning is treatable and sometimes preventable. Response to chelation therapy with agents such as calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA) is impressive, although several courses of therapy may be necessary.

Language: en