Could your young patient have lead poisoning?

While clinical symptoms of classic lead poisoning are rare in Australian children, elevated body lead burden may have a small but treatable contribution to developmental and behavioural problems in individual children; its cumulative neurodevelopmental impact on populations of children is a greater public health concern. Children with blood leads over 15 micrograms/dL require blood lead monitoring and if persistently elevated assessment of potential environmental sources is indicated; children with lead levels over 25 micrograms/dL should be seen by a paediatrician. Chelation is not indicated in children with blood leads less than 55 micrograms/dL.