Evaluation of Abdominal Pain Characteristics in Patients with Lead Poisoning Referred to Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran during 2016-2017

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant, Department of Neurological Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Student Research Committee, Luqman Hakim Hospital

2 Professor, Department of General Surgery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti Hospital

3 General Practitioner, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Student Research Committee, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Introduction & Objective: Each toxic agent results in unique presentations, depending on what neurophysiological changes occur following exposure. Lead poisoning can lead to various signs and symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the abdominal pain characteristics of patients with lead poisoning referred to Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran during 2016-2017. Materials & Methods: All patients with lead poisoning were referred to Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran from April 2016 to September 2017 undergoing surgical consultation Were Evaluated. Information was recorded in a researcher-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information (age, sex, education, occupation) history of previous illness, history of addiction (type of substance, drug use method, duration of drug use), abdominal examination, blood lead level, hemoglobin, and results of paraclinical measures Plain abdominal geraphy. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 soft ware. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 200 patients were diagnosed with lead poisoning based on history and serum lead levels were evaluated. Of these, 184 were males (92%) and 16 were females (8%). The mean age of the patients was 48 ± 4.5 (mean ± SD). Abdominal pain was more common in peri-umbelical, the nature of pain was severe, usually without radiation, exacerbation with eating, non-response to analgesics and the most associated with constipation. Conclusions: Abdominal pain was more common in peri-umbelical, the nature of pain was severe, usually without radiation, exacerbation with eating, non-response to analgesics and the most associated with constipation.

Keywords


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