[Clinical and biochemical aspects of accidental poisoning with tetraethyl lead in a 2.5 year old patient--long term observation]. / Kliniczne i biochemiczne aspekty przypadkowego zatrucia tetraetylkiem olowiu u 2,5 letniego dziecka--dlugofalowa obserwacja przypadku.

The paper describes an accidental, acute toxic exposure of a 2.5-year-old girl to tetraethyl lead. The authors discuss the clinical picture and treatment within the acute phase of intoxication as well as during the ambulatory follow-up of chronic sequelae of the exposure. Systemic, periodic monitoring of lead (Pb) levels in the blood (B-Pb) and urine (U-Pb) over a 2-year period gave the authors a unique opportunity to observe the dynamics of urinary excretion of this element. In the acute phase of intoxication the Pb blood value reached the plateau at the 46 micrograms/dl after 3 days from the exposure. Mild encephalopathy and gastrointestinal tract irritation was observed at that time. After 3 weeks of hospitalisation Pb levels decreased to the values 32 micrograms/dl whereas urinary Pb diminished from the initial 600 micrograms/L to 56 micrograms/L. During the 2-years outpatient follow-up Pb in the blood decreased to 7 micrograms/dl. Urinary Pb is still maintained above the population value's range. No detectable, permanent detrimental health effects were observed in the child. The girl is followed-up in annual intervals. Several other tissues are and will be assessed by non-invasive methods (e.g. hair, primary teeth) and analysed for accumulated Pb. The collected data will allow the authors for describing Pb distribution in the body as well as long term excretion in the growing and developing organism of the child.

Severe polyneuropathy in a 3-year-old child after dichlorophenoxyacetic herbicide--chwastox intoxication, treated successfully with plasmapheresis (PF).

The clinical picture of intoxication with dichlorophenoxy acetic herbicides is well recognised in adults and some treatment recommendations are established. To the best of our knowledge there is scarcity of well documented cases of intoxication with this substance in children. Our report describes the clinical picture of Chwastox intoxication in a 3-year-old child. Some similarities and differences between adults and children are discussed, as well as the indications for plasmapheresis, which could be a valuable mode of treatment in such cases.