CORRECT ANSWER:
B) Lead poisoning
MORE INFO:
- Lead poisoning: Symptoms include developmental delays, poor appetite, learning disabilities, irritability, abdomen pain, hearing loss.
- Pica (eating non food items-paint chips, ice) in young children, often leads to lead poisoning. Especially if they live in an older home.
- Some homes used to contain lead in the paint (late 1970’s and earlier).
- Lead based paint (especially older homes) is the most common source of lead exposure.
- Also certain toys and household furniture contain lead.
- Pica is theorized to be related to iron/zinc deficiency.
- Asbestos exposure: Shortness of air, coughing, clubbing nails, nail deformities, chest tightness, loss of appetite.
- Usually from occupational exposure-asbestosis containing industrial materials.
- Mercury poisoning: Often found in fish and shellfish.
- Symptoms: impaired peripheral vision, numbness and tingling, impaired speech, tremors, muscle atrophy, insomnia, weakness, cognitive decline, headaches, twitching
- Carbon monoxide poisoning: Symptoms include headaches, cherry colored lips (uncommon), dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, nausea/vomit
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REFERENCES:
- Mayo clinic- Lead Poisoning https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717
- WebMD- Lead Poisoning Topic Overview https://www.webmd.com/children/tc/lead-poisoning-topic-overview#1
- Epocrates Plus- Lead Toxicity
- CDC Lead https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/