What happens if lead gets in your skin

But even low-level lead exposure can lead to learning and behavior problems, like trouble paying attention. Symptoms of lead poisoning include:. A simple blood test can diagnose lead poisoning. Lead testing is also recommended for kids who live in an older home or whose parent has a hobby or job that involves being around lead. Any child who might have been exposed to lead should get tested. The most important part of treatment is preventing more exposure to lead.

The doctor will ask about the home to try to identify possible sources of lead. If a child has lead poisoning, all siblings should be tested. Calcium , iron , and vitamin C are important parts of a healthy diet and also help decrease how much lead the body absorbs. Kids with high lead levels and symptoms of lead poisoning may need care in a hospital to get a medicine called a chelator KEE-lay-ter.

The chelator helps remove the lead from the body. The effects of lead on development may not show up for years. Doctors will closely follow the development of children with lead exposure at all regular checkups. Because there is no safe level for lead, try to protect kids from it. To help prevent lead poisoning:. Reviewed by: Mary L. This involves a simple prick of the finger or vein puncture. There are no safe levels of lead in the body. In other words, any presence of lead in the body can cause harm.

As with most types of poisoning, the first step is to identify and remove the source of the poison. If the problem is old paint, it may be best to seal in the paint rather than to chip it, sand it or burn it off, which could increase the quantities of lead in the air.

Additionally, if there are concerns that someone has eaten a life-threatening amount of lead in one dose, the following procedures might be needed:. Adults who have experienced relatively minor lead poisoning may recover completely. As children are still developing, they may not fully recover. There may be permanent IQ and attention deficits. Other body systems, such as the kidneys and nerves, might also sustain permanent damage.

Depending on severity, recovery can take months or years. Arsenic poisoning is caused by the ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of dangerous amounts of arsenic, a natural semi-metallic chemical. Asthma is a chronic airway condition that leads to wheezing and difficulty breathing. Learn more about the types and causes of asthma here. Air pollution surrounds people every day, both indoors and outdoors. Brita filters work in a similar way to other filters to remove certain components and contaminants from water.

Read more here. Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans and the environment. Polluted water can also lead to numerous health conditions. Learn more. Lead poisoning in children and in adults. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. In children. In adults. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. Treat it like any other wound unless it is, I suppose, really severe. Madsen: Exactly. Treat it like you would anything else that stabs you. If you're having neurologic issues , if it affects a nerve, if it affects tendons, if it's deep where it's going to potentially affect anything internal.

Anything beneath the surface, yeah, go to the ER, but otherwise, the lead itself is not something you should be concerned about. Announcer: Have a question about a medical procedure?

Want to learn more about a health condition? Check it out at TheScopeRadio. Subscribe to Our e-Newsletter. Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it. Interviewer: Oh, man! Madsen: Yeah, that's one of those images that just does not leave your mind. Interviewer: No, I don't suppose.

Madsen: It's graphite, exactly. And it's not lead that's going to cause lead poisoning. Interviewer: Okay.