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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report

Folk prescription for treating rhinitis as a rare cause of childhood lead poisoning: a case series

Authors: Xiao-Lan Ying, Morri Markowitz, Chong-Huai Yan

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Folk prescriptions continue to be important sources of childhood lead poisoning. Nasal spray folk prescriptions for treating rhinitis has only been reported once previously as a cause of lead poisoning.

Case presentation

We identified three pediatric cases of severe lead poisoning caused by nasal spray folk medicines prescribed for treating rhinitis. The three patients had similar clinical manifestations including: severe abdominal pain, headache, pale appearance and fatigue. Liver function tests were abnormal. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of the three patients were 91 μg/dL, 91 μg/dL, and 105 μg/dL, respectively. After chelation BLLs decreased. The lead content of the three folk remedies as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were 14.8, 22.3, and 33.4%. All the symptoms resolved during a course of chelation therapy. There were no severe side effects of treatment.

Conclusions

Nasal spray folk prescriptions for treating rhinitis may contain extremely high bio-accessible lead content and are potential sources of lead poisoning. Clinicians should be alert to this possibility especially in those children presenting with multisystem symptoms.
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Metadata
Title
Folk prescription for treating rhinitis as a rare cause of childhood lead poisoning: a case series
Authors
Xiao-Lan Ying
Morri Markowitz
Chong-Huai Yan
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1193-9

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