According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about
500,000 U.S. children ages 1 to 5 have lead
levels greater than 5 micrograms per deciliter (?g/dL) of blood.
1
Problems that can be attributed to even a small amount of lead in the blood
include learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, decreased muscle and
bone growth, as well as behavioral problems.
2
To help raise awareness of the importance of lead screenings, IBC is educating
the parents and guardians of children ages 2 and older for whom there is no
record of a lead screening. Parents will receive information in the mail
regarding the importance of lead screening and lead safety, and they will be
encouraged to discuss screening and education with their child?s health care
provider.
Lead screening recommendations
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
children?s blood levels tend to increase from 6 to 12 months of age, and tend
to peak at 18 to 24 months of age.
3 The CDC has recently updated its
recommendations on children?s blood lead levels and recommends that health care
providers try to prevent the occurrence of blood lead levels of 5 ?g/dL and
above instead of 10 ?g/dL and above in children by
4:
screening children younger than age 6, preferably by ages 1 and 2, if they had
not yet been tested;
screening children and their family members who have been exposed to high
levels of lead;
screening children who should be tested under their state and local health
screening plan.
The new blood lead level value means that more children will likely be
identified as having lead exposure ? allowing parents, doctors, public health
officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child?s future
exposure to lead. The new recommendation does not change the guidance that
chelation therapy be considered when a child has a blood lead test greater than
or equal to 45 ?g/dL.
What your practice can do
Physicians can try to prevent lead poisoning in children by:
discussing recommendations for lead screening with the parents/guardians of
their pediatric patients;
screening children starting at age 12 months and again at 24 months;
discussing additional follow-up screening with parents and guardians;
discussing lead safety and prevention with parents and guardians.
Resources
The following resources may assist you and your staff in effectively educating
parents and guardians regarding the importance of lead screening:
The National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Campaign Toolkit. The CDC along
with the EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development developed the
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Campaign Toolkit to encourage
information sharing, collaboration, and promotion of lead poisoning prevention
activities. To download the toolkit, please visit
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/nlppw.htm.
Lead Safe Babies Program.
215-731-7148 (Philadelphia
residents)
National Lead Information Center.
1-800-424-LEAD
(non-Philadelphia residents)
Additional resources on patient management can be found on our website at
www.ibx.com/providers/resources
.