Instructional methods

Lead is a common environmental pollutantrecognized as an etiologic factor for subtlecognitive and neurological deficits,hypertension, congenital malformations, immunotoxicity, and deficits in growth and development(1). Children are particularly at risk of neurotoxicity, because of increased sensitivity of the developing brain to the pernicious effects of lead(2). Underlying coexisting disease pathology can also enhance the detrimental effect of lead on the neural system(2). Inspite of these known deleterious effects, there is no universal screening program, and public health regulations to prevent its exposure in children remain in abeyance in India(3). Even children admitted to hospitals with neurological symptoms are seldom, if at all, evaluated for blood lead levels. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) in children admitted to the hospital with and without clinical diagnosis of encephalopathy, the determinants of EBLL, and its correlation with the clinical manifestations and neurological outcomes