This National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 23-29, learn how to protect babies and toddlers from lead poisoning. Lead is a toxin and does not belong in our blood.
Most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick. A blood test ordered by your child’s doctor is the only way to tell if your child has lead poisoning. Make sure your child gets tested for lead when they turn 1 and 2 years old.
The lead test is only a snapshot in time. It is very important for doctors to capture that snapshot at age 1 and again at age 2 when they are more likely to be exploring their environment.
Why should we be worried about lead poisoning? Too much lead in the body can cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. This can lead to problems with learning and paying attention, slow a child’s growth and development, and cause hearing and speech problems. It can also lead to behavior problems, such as aggressive behavior. Even low blood lead levels can affect children’s behaviors, including issues with anxiety, emotion, and delayed social skills.
The local Health Department is responsible for tracking children’s lead test results. If they find that a child has too much lead in their blood, then the Health Department will work with the family to quickly try to bring that level down. Taking these steps can help avoid problems that could impact the child’s future.
For more information, visit https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/.../Lead-Poisoning....
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