clinical features

Last edited 04/2022 and last reviewed 04/2022

Possible clinical features of someone, usually a child, who has ingested lead include:

  • encephalopathy:
    • irritability
    • ataxia
    • drowsiness
    • convulsions
    • eventually, coma

  • colicky abdominal pain with vomiting
  • pica
  • papilloedema
  • in the longer term it may cause learning disability and behaviour disorders
  • acute lead poisoning may cause a Fanconi syndrome