[Long term consequences among children exposed to lead poisoning]. / Efectos clínicos a largo plazo en niños intoxicados con plomo en una región del sur de Chile.

BACKGROUND: In 1996 there was a massive lead poisoning in a southern rural community in Chile. The contamination source was a mill whose grinding stone was repaired with lead and contaminated the flour. AIM: To assess the presence of sequelae ten years later, among subjects that were exposed to lead on that occasion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 77 individuals (47 males), aged 10 to 25 years, that were exposed to lead in 1996 and were treated with EDTA. RESULTS: Twenty one percent of subjects had a subnormal intelligence quotient (IQ). The risk of having a low IQ was significantly higher among those exposed before the age of six years. IQ was significantly lower among subjects that, immediately after the exposure, had a lead level over 48 microg/dl, compared with those that had a lead level below 43 microg/dl (86.7+/-7.3 and 93+/-11.6 respectively). No subjects with high blood pressure or evidences of nephrotoxicity were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects aged less than six years at the moment of lead exposure had a lower IQ when assessed ten years later.

Efectos clínicos a largo plazo en niños intoxicados con plomo en una región del sur de Chile / Long term consequences among children exposed to lead poisoning

Background: In 1996 there was a massive lead poisoning in a southern rural community in Chile. The contamination source was a mill whose grinding stone was repaired with lead and contaminated the flour. Aim: To assess the presence of sequelae ten years later, among subjects that were exposed to lead on that occasion. Material and methods: Cross sectional study of 77 individuals (47 males), aged 10 to 25 years, that were exposed to lead in 1996 and were treated with EDTA. Results: Twenty one percent of subjects had a subnormal intellingence quotient (IQ). The risk of having a low IQ was significantly higher among those exposed before the age of six years. IQ was significantly lower among subjects that, immediately after the exposure, had a lead level over 48 fig/dl, compared with those that had a lead level below 43 fig/dl (86.7±7.3 and 93±11.6 respectively). No subjects with high blood pressure or evidences of nephrotoxicity were detected. Conclusions: Subjects aged ¡ess than six years at the moment of lead exposure had a lower IQ when assessed ten years later.

Effect of white cell counts on the presence of human herpes simplex virus type-1 in saliva of pediatric oncology patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess if there is increased herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) salivary shedding in oncology pediatric patients with severe cytopenia (SC). STUDY DESIGN: HSV-1 was detected by real time PCR in saliva samples from oncology pediatric patients (n = 30) during SC and relative cytopenia (RC), and from healthy children (n = 27). RESULTS: The frequency of HSV-1 positive saliva samples was higher in patients with SC as compared to controls (P < .05), and this frequency presented a significant reduction during RC periods (P < .02). The SC group positive for HSV-1 presented both a twofold increase in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as compared with SC patients negative for HSV-1 (P < .05), and a positive correlation between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (P < .05, R = 0.82, R(2) = 0.67). This correlation was not found in oncology patients negative for HSV-1 during SC and RC. CONCLUSION: Severe cytopenia in oncology pediatric patients could be an important susceptibility factor for increased HSV-1 salivary shedding.