Was your house or apartment building built before 1978? Do children under age 6 live with you or stay with you sometimes? Protect them by reading the following.
Lead poisoning causes children to have learning and behavior problems. With very high lead levels, children can develop seizures, become unconscious or even die.
Lead-based paint dust is produced when old paint breaks down, and the dust causes many cases of childhood lead poisoning in Iowa. Exposure to lead can also come through:
- Bare soil outside old buildings
- Water from old pipes
- Cosmetics or hair dye from other countries
- Fishing sinkers
- Stain glass windows or decorations
- Paint on antiques, imported toys or pottery
Watch this quick video for additional information.
A blood test is the only way to tell whether a child has a high lead level. Iowa law requires children entering kindergarten to be screened for lead poisoning.
But waiting until age 5 means much damage can already have occurred. That’s why an annual blood screen is important. Many insurance plans, including Medicaid and Hawk-i, will pay for this annual blood test.
If you aren’t sure whether your little one has been screened for lead, call your clinic and ask. For help connecting your family to a primary doctor, call Health Navigation at 515-993-3750.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
