Case Study 1 "Lead"

Case Study 1-The Children with Lead Poisoning

1) What is the etiology of the mental and physiological signs shown by these patients?

-The cause of the mental and physiological signs shown by these patients is lead poisoning. The toxins within the lead are effecting the brain and nerves of the patients.

2) What risk factors for lead poisoning can you identify in this case study?

-In this particular case study the risk factors include:

Occupation-children collecting scrap metal with in a lead infested old factory for money

Age- children from ages 6 to 15 were the ones salvaging the scrap metal

Diet- the elderly woman’s habit of compulsively chewing on nonnutritive substances

3) Is lead a toxin?

-According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), “No amount of lead is safe. Eliminating all lead exposure in our environment is our best course of action. New findings from NIEHS-supported grantees, as well as the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have found many adverse health effects in both children and adults at blood levels below 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) and for some below 5 ug/dL.” (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2014.)

4) Do any of the people in this story exhibit idiopathic lead poisoning? Why or Why not?

-No, the term idiopathic is defined as a disease in which no cause can be identified. Due to the fact that the reason for all the signs and symptoms have been diagnosed as lead poisoning, this particular case study is not labeled as idiopathic.

5) Would you consider lead poisoning a syndrome? Why or Why not?

-Absolutely, a syndrome is defined as ‘a collection of signs, symptoms, and degenerative processes that occur together in a particular disease.’ The children in this case study all showed symptoms and signs such as, joint pain, excessive salivation, numbness and tingling in their limbs, etc. All of their signs and symptoms seemed to occur...