Chronic lead poisoning induced abdominal pain and anemia: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background Chronic lead poisoning (CLP) is a rare cause of abdominal pain and is common in young children, in whom the incidence is higher than it is in adults. As the symptoms of CLP are nonspecific, misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses often occur, especially in sporadic cases. Case presentat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuan Yang, Shujun Li, Hong Wang, Morong Liu, Biguang Tuo, Huichao Wu, Shili Deng, Xuemei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-10-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12876-020-01482-x
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Summary:Abstract Background Chronic lead poisoning (CLP) is a rare cause of abdominal pain and is common in young children, in whom the incidence is higher than it is in adults. As the symptoms of CLP are nonspecific, misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses often occur, especially in sporadic cases. Case presentation We report a 28-year-old young man who was misdiagnosed with renal colic due to sudden acute abdominal pain. After a detailed medical history and physical examination, other possible causes were excluded, CLP was finally diagnosed, and he recovered after chelation treatment. Conclusion Abdominal pain is a very common clinical symptom in adults, which has many causes. We should be vigilant against chronic poisoning, especially CLP. Detailed diagnosis and physical examination are crucial in early diagnosis and treatment.
ISSN:1471-230X