MANAGEMENT OF LEAD-POISONING FROM INGESTED FISHING SINKERS

Objective: To describe what is to our knowledge the first reported cas e of lead poisoning from ingested fishing sinkers in an 8-year-old boy for whom whole bowel irrigation and colonoscopy were required. Litera ture Review: All relevant literature on plumbism from other swallowed foreign bodies, including curtain weights, bullets, shot, and other un usual sources, is reviewed and discussed. Conclusions: Lead screening is advocated in any child presenting with a history of pica or foreign -body ingestion, especially presentations involving abdominal pain, we ight loss, and emesis. Conservative management of retained foreign bod ies containing lead is not recommended with persistently high lead lev els. Medical and surgical intervention should be considered.