Lead Poisoning Among Saudi Children

Ten Saudi children with clinical and laboratory findings related to lead intoxication were seen at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital from 1984 to 1988. A presumptive diagnosis of chronic lead poisoning was made retrospectively on 12 other children with hypochromic and microcytic anemia whose other laboratory data were consistent with lead poisoning. The ages of the children ranged from six months to 13 years. After the first child with lead encephalopathy was diagnosed, a high index of suspicion was maintained, thus enabling us to establish an early diagnosis of lead encephalopathy. The findings of this study suggest that excessive lead exposure may still pose a serious public health hazard in Saudi Arabia today which needs to be addressed.