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With
the dangers facing children today, a lot of
parents feel their children are safest at
home.
But if you live in an older building your
child may be at risk from a hidden danger:
Lead Poisoning.
LEAD HAZARDS
Lead poisoning affects virtually every system
of a child's body. It can cause central nervous
system, kidney, and reproductive system damage,
and in severe cases coma, seizures and even
death.
It
causes decreased intelligence, behavioral
disorders, and a host of neurological problems
that can cause irreversible and permanent
damage to your child.
The
Center for Disease Control
estimates that more than 890,000 children
in the United States between the ages of 1
and 5 have
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increased
lead levels, even though it is an injury that
is entirely preventable.
Most
children with lead poisoning do not show obvious
symptoms. Irritability, weight loss and not
wanting to play can be attributed to dozens
of other common childhood illnesses.
The only certain way to know if your child
has been exposed to lead is to have their
blood tested for lead levels.
Medicaid covers testing for children between
6 and 72 months of age. If you need a referral
to a pediatrician or lab for this testing
you can call the local Health
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Department to find out
where this can be done at a low cost or for
free, depending on your income.
Very young children and babies are most at
risk for lead poisoning.
This is because they frequently have their
hands in their mouths. If there is dust from
lead paint in your home where children crawl
and play, this is extremely dangerous.
Young children are also at a greater risk
because their bodies absorb more lead than
an adult body does and because their bodies
are growing so quickly.
DANGERS IN
THE HOME
Many people believe that because lead paint
has been outlawed for household use for many
years that it is no longer a problem, however,
that is simply not true.
Lead poisoning cont
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