Browse > Article

Two Cases of Lead Poisoning due to Herb Medicinal Pills  

Choi, Seong Hwan (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Park, Eun Young (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Shim, Jung Yeon (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Kim, Deok Soo (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Shim, Jae Won (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Jung, Hye Lim (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Park, Moon Soo (Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Publication Information
Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics / v.48, no.9, 2005 , pp. 1009-1015 More about this Journal
Abstract
We encountered two children with lead poisoning who were administered herb medicinal pills recommended by their clergyman. These patients presented anemia and severe coliky abdominal pain, but no neurologic symptoms. For this reason, they were initially misdiagnosed with gastrointestinal hemorrhagic disease. However, we got a clue that they took herb medicinal pills. Finally, based on the assay of blood lead level, we made a correct diagnosis of lead poisoning in these patients. These patients underwent chelating therapy. Subsequently, the concentration of blood lead was decreased. Finally, we drew a conclusion that the possibility of lead poisoning must be considered in children who complained of colicky abdominal pain accompanying anemia. Here, we report two pediatric cases of lead poisoning with a review of literature.
Keywords
Lead poisoning; Abdominal pain; Colic; Anemia; Chelating therapy; Herb medicinal pills;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Crutcher, JC. Clinical manifestations and therapy of acute l ead intoxication due to the ingestion of illicitly distilled alcohol. Ann Intern Med 1963;59:707-15   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Felton, JS, Kahn E, Salick B, Vonnatta FC, Whitehouse MW. Heavy metal poisoning : mercury and lead. Ann Intern Med 1972;76:779-92   DOI   ScienceOn
3 Ha SY, Kang KW. Two cases of lead poisoning after taking herb pills, Hwangdan (Red Lead). J Korean Pediatr Soc 1979;22:64-70
4 Needleman HL, Gunnoe C, Leviton A, Reed R, Peresie H, Maher C, Barrett P. Deficits in psychologic and classroom performance of children with elevated dentine lead levels. N Engl J Med 1979;300:689-95   DOI   ScienceOn
5 Fung HT, Fung CW, Kam CW. Lead poisoning after ingestion of home-made Chinese medicines. Emerg Med (Fremantle) 2003;15:518-20   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Kim JY, Kim JH, Kim HW, Roh JH, Lee KH, Cheon BC, et al. A review of lead poisoning cases reported for recent 30 years in Korea. Korean J Med 2004;66:617-24
7 Janin Y, Couinaud C, Stone A, Wise L. The 'lead-induced colic' syndrome in lead intoxication. Surg Annu 1985;17:287-307
8 Needleman HL, Gatsonis CA. Low-level lead exposure and the IQ of children. JAMA 1990;263:673-8   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Choi PS, Lee CW, Park ER. Lead and it's compound. Collection of Environment data in Ministry of Environment 1999;2:12-22
10 Piomelli S. Lead poisoning. In : Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Arvin AM, editors. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. philadelphia : WB Saunders Co, 2004:2358-62
11 Kim SH, Kim WS, Ahn DH, Sohn KC, Lee HS. A case of lead nephropathy. J Korean Pediatr Soc 1992;35:1744-9
12 Marsha F. Clinical toxicology. 1st ed. Philadelphia : WB Saunders Co, 2001:723-4