Assessing the Prevalence of Lead Toxicity and Related Factors in Pediatric Patients with Abdominal Pain

Background: Lead toxicity is an environmental disease that has been encountered since ancient times and can present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, or neurological deficits. This issue accounts for the highest burden among environmental disorders. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of lead toxicity in patients with abdominal pain in Southern Iran. Methods: In this study, 50 pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain and 50 healthy individuals were compared in terms of their blood lead levels and underlying demographic information that could contribute to lead toxicity. Results: A total of 100 participants were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 8.50 ± 2.444 years, 53.0% of whom were male. The mean blood lead levels in the control and case groups were 1.54 ± 0.693 and 2.73 ± 2.547 µg/dL, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002). When cutoff values of 2 µg/dL and 3.5 µg/dL were considered for lead toxicity, the prevalence of lead toxicity was significantly higher in the case group. Environmental and demographic factors did not differ between patients with lead toxicity and those with normal lead levels (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of lead toxicity in children complaining of chronic abdominal pain was 12.0% (95% CI: 4.5% - 24.3%). However, more accurate testing of the environment is needed in future studies.