TITLE:
Lead poisoning due to appendiceal foreign body
AUTHORS:
Gustavo Stringel, Camelia Lawrence, Richard Noto, Adele Brudnicki, Gwen Smith
KEYWORDS:
Lead Poisoning; Appendix Foreign Body
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.3 No.3,
August
13,
2013
ABSTRACT: Lead poisoning caused by a foreign body is rare. Foreign bodies that are ingested typically pass without consequence or awareness by the patient [1]. There are few documented cases of lead poisoning from an ingested foreign body lodged in the appendix. Screening for lead poisoning is mandated by New York State at annual well person exams for children ages 6 months to 6 years [2]. We present a case of a 2-year-old male who was found to have elevated lead levels during a routine well-child visit. An abdominal X-ray was obtained as part of routine follow up for elevated lead levels and a foreign body was found in the right lower quadrant. After unsuccessful attempt to flush the foreign body out with golytely, a CT abdomen/ pelvis was obtained. The foreign body was localized in the appendix. The patient was subsequently taken to surgery for an appendectomy to remove the foreign body. This case is a demonstration of the positive effects of the lead screening guidelines of New York.