The most common type of heavy metals intoxication in medical practice is lead poisoning. Even people who are not related by profession to the production or use of this substance are often exposed to this pathology by inhaling toxic dust or fumes.
Symptoms and signs of lead poisoning
Clinical manifestations of the problem described are associated with an increase in the concentration of heavy metal in the blood (more than 800-100 μg / L of biological fluid). Acute poisoning with lead vapors or dust containing this chemical element is accompanied by such symptoms:
- anemia;
- intense pain in the abdomen;
- peripheral neuropathy with rapid demyelination of long neurons;
- headache;
- memory and consciousness disorders.
There is also subclinical chronic lead poisoning, in which the concentration of metal in the blood grows gradually with periods of insignificant decrease. As a rule, this form of the disease is peculiar to people working in chemical industries using lead compounds. She has the following symptoms:
- kidney damage;
- high blood pressure;
- deterioration of the peripheral nervous system;
- very rarely - encephalopathy .
Treatment of lead poisoning
First of all, remove the source of contact with vapors and dust containing lead. Further therapy is based on the introduction into the body of drugs that form chemical complexes with a metal - compounds that block the negative effect of the element and contribute to its elimination. To do this, calcium salts dimercaprol, EDTA and cuprin (D-penicillamine) are used, and a new agent, dimercaptosuccinic acid, is also being tested.
The feasibility of treatment is determined after comparing the amount of injected drug and lead, excreted in the urine. Therapy is considered effective if 1 mg of complexing drug accounts for more than 1 μg of lead in the urine that has been released during the day.
With severe poisoning and the development of acute encephalopathy, it is recommended to administer two drugs simultaneously - the calcium salt of EDTA and Dimercaprol. The presence of cerebral edema also involves the use of Dexamethasone and Mannitol.
The full course of treatment is 5 days, but if necessary, it can be repeated after a short break.