Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Skull Base Research Center AND Department of Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Clinical Toxicology, School of Medicine, Loghman-Hakim Hospital AND Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5
Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Lead poisoning is now more common due to accidental or intentional exposure to opium
impregnated with lead. We aimed to determine the relationship between the blood lead levels (BLLs) and
basic characteristics in opium-poisoned children.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 32 children younger than 13 years old who had been admitted to
Loghman Hakim Poison Center, Tehran, Iran, due to opium poisoning, were evaluated for BLLs. Patients’
demographics, symptoms, signs, and lab tests were evaluated as well as the BLLs.
Findings: The median and range of age in children with opium poisoning were 14 and 141 months with
minimum and maximum age of 3 and 144 months, respectively, and 62.5% were boys. Their mean BLL was
9.78 ± 3.44 μg/dl and in 70% of opium-poisoned children, BLL was ≥ 5 μg/dl. There was a significant
difference between mean BLLs in girls and boys (17.07 ± 6.57 μg/dl in girls and 6.61 ± 3.22 μg/dl in boys,
P = 0.02). We found a significant correlation between BLL and hemoglobin (Hb) level. In very low Hb level
(< 8 g/dl), the BLL was higher but with increasing Hb level, BLL increased as well; in Hb levels > 14 g/dl,
BLL decreased again (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: Although none of the children needed chelation therapy, strategies should be developed to
prevent children from being exposed to opium and other materials impregnated with lead regarding its
effects on all organs of children.
Keywords
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