The effects of acute infection on blood lead, copper, and zinc levels in children.

Recent reports in the literature have presented results showing a decrease in blood zinc levels accompanied by an increase in blood copper levels during acute infection. The purpose of this study was to determine possible shifts in whole blood lead as well as whole blood zinc and copper during such a stress state. The total survey population of 73 was divided into 21 children with non-infectious diseases, 40 children with acute infections and 12 asymptomatic lead poisoned children admitted for elective chelation therapy. No differences between whole blood lead levels for acute and non-infectious groups were determined. Zinc levels for controls were significantly greater than those in both the infected and the asymptomatic lead intoxicated groups. Copper levels were elevated in the infected group compared to controls but this elevation was significant only when associated with temperatures over 102 F.