A shocking medical case in Delhi reveals the hidden dangers of unregulated alternative medicine treatments. Doctors discovered a 65-year-old woman suffering from severe lead poisoning after prolonged use of indigenous medications. Her blood lead levels were an alarming 16 times higher than normal, causing serious health complications. The patient was successfully treated with chelation therapy, demonstrating the critical importance of medical oversight and careful screening of alternative health treatments.
February 25, 2025
Lead Poisoning: Avoid alternative treatments without proper guidance, as they can lead to lead poisoning
"These
remedies may seem safe, but can contain harmful toxins like lead" - Dr.
Piyush Ranjan, Sir Gangaram Hospital
In a recent
case, doctors at a private hospital in Delhi have identified a rare and
preventable cause of severe abdominal pain and anaemia in a 65-year-old woman,
pointing to lead poisoning from prolonged use of alternative medicines.
Key Points
1 Lead levels 16x higher than normal in elderly patient
2 Alternative medicine poses hidden health risks
3 Chelation therapy successfully treated severe symptoms
4 Comprehensive testing crucial for accurate diagnosis
According
to Dr. Piyush Ranjan, Vice-Chairperson of the Institute of Liver
Gastroenterology & Pancreatico Biliary Sciences at Sir Gangaram Hospital,
emphasized, "This case is a stark reminder of the dangers that unregulated
alternative medicines can pose. While these remedies may seem safe or natural,
they can contain harmful toxins like lead that accumulate in the body over
time, causing severe health issues. Early recognition and intervention are
critical in such cases, and we encourage the public to be cautious when using
alternative treatments that lack proper regulation and quality control."
"The
patient was experiencing abdominal pain for over a month and was admitted with
severe anemia, with a hemoglobin level of just 7 gm/dL. Despite initial
investigations, including ultrasound, CECT abdomen, and endoscopies, no clear
diagnosis was made, leaving the medical team puzzled," stated the
hospital.
"However,
after considering the patient's history of using "alternative
medicines" for bone health, a comprehensive blood lead test and bone
marrow examination were performed. Shockingly, her blood lead levels were found
to be extremely high at 163.5 ug/dL (normal levels are below 10 ug/dL),
confirming the diagnosis of lead poisoning," the hospital further stated.
"The
patient had no history of blood in her stool, weight loss, or use of pain
medications. Despite normal imaging tests, her symptoms of abdominal discomfort
and constipation persisted. It was only when the possibility of lead exposure
was considered that the true cause was revealed," said the hospital
officials further while explaining about the symptoms of patient who come for
the treatment.
Lead
poisoning can occur through the ingestion of contaminated substances, and in
this case, the prolonged intake of indigenous medications led to the buildup of
toxic levels of lead in the patient's system.
The patient
was immediately started on chelation therapy, beginning with British Antimony
Lewisite (BAL) injections and subsequently switched to oral Succimer tablets.
Remarkably, her symptoms improved significantly within just three days.
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