Toxic Remedy: A Case of a 3-Year-Old Child With Lead Colic Treated With Lead Monoxide (Greta)
Elena E. Cabb, MPH,
Emmanuel C. Gorospe, MD,
Anne M. Rothweiler, MS,
and
Shawn L. Gerstenberger, PhD*
Environmnetal Health Survveillance Laboratory School of Public Health
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: shawn.gerstenberger{at}unlv.edu.
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Abstract |
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This article reports the case of a 3-year-old male with an elevated blood lead level. The child had a history of consuming imported lead-contaminated candies resulting in abdominal pains for which he was given a Hispanic folk remedy, called greta, by his mother. The home remedy aggravated the childs symptoms which prompted medical consultation. Analysis of the powdered folk remedy revealed a lead concentration of 140 000 ppm. This case highlights the complexities associated with identifying unfamiliar sources of lead poisoning, and their potential relationships to cultural practices.