A 10-year-old boy spent 10 months throwing up repeatedly with no clear cause. Doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with his stomach, but he also had trouble concentrating, wasn’t growing normally, and had swollen neck glands. When doctors discovered he lived near a lead mining site and tested his blood, they found dangerously high lead levels. After receiving special treatment to remove the lead from his body, his vomiting stopped and he felt much better. This case shows that doctors need to think about lead poisoning when kids have mysterious stomach problems, especially if they live near mining areas.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: A single case of a young boy whose repeated vomiting turned out to be caused by lead poisoning rather than a stomach disease
  • Who participated: One 10-year-old boy living near a lead mining facility who had been vomiting for 10 months
  • Key finding: The boy’s blood lead level was extremely high at 382 μg/L (normal is below 35 μg/L). After treatment to remove lead, his blood level dropped to 168 μg/L and his vomiting stopped.
  • What it means for you: If a child has unexplained vomiting, trouble concentrating, or isn’t growing well—especially near mining or industrial areas—doctors should test for lead poisoning. This is a reminder that sometimes mysterious health problems have hidden environmental causes.

The Research Details

This is a case report, which means doctors are sharing the story of one patient’s experience. A 10-year-old boy came to the hospital complaining of vomiting that happened on and off for 10 months. The doctors did many tests looking for stomach problems, but couldn’t find anything wrong. They noticed the boy also had other symptoms: he wasn’t growing as fast as he should, his vitamin D was low, his neck glands were swollen, and he was having trouble in school and concentrating. When doctors asked detailed questions about where the boy lived and worked, they learned he lived very close to a lead mining facility. This clue made them test his blood for lead levels.

Case reports are important because they describe unusual or surprising situations that doctors might not think about otherwise. This case is valuable because it shows how lead poisoning can hide behind symptoms that look like other diseases. By sharing this story, doctors help other doctors around the world recognize similar cases and test for lead when they might not have thought to do so.

This is a single case report, so it describes what happened to one boy—not a large group of people. While case reports are helpful for raising awareness, they cannot prove that something will happen to everyone. The strength of this report is that the doctors did thorough testing and found a clear cause (lead) and then showed improvement after treatment. However, because it’s just one case, we can’t say how common this situation is or predict exactly what will happen to other children.

What the Results Show

The boy’s blood lead level was measured at 382 μg/L, which is more than 10 times higher than the safe level (35 μg/L or less). This confirmed he had chronic lead poisoning—meaning he had been exposed to lead for a long time. The doctors gave him a special medicine called DMSA that helps remove lead from the body. After 19 days of treatment, his blood lead level dropped to 168 μg/L. Most importantly, after the treatment started, the boy’s vomiting decreased significantly and his stomach pain went away. He also showed improvement in his ability to concentrate and his overall well-being improved.

Beyond the vomiting stopping, the boy’s other symptoms related to lead poisoning also improved. His growth problems, vitamin D deficiency, and concentration difficulties all showed signs of improvement after the lead was removed from his body. The swollen neck glands also resolved. These improvements suggest that many of his health problems were connected to the lead poisoning rather than separate conditions.

Lead poisoning in children is well-known to cause neurological problems (brain and nerve issues), growth problems, and stomach symptoms. However, this case is notable because the vomiting was the main symptom that brought the boy to the doctor, and it looked like it might be cyclic vomiting syndrome (a specific stomach condition). Most cases of lead poisoning are caught through routine blood screening or because of obvious exposure. This case reminds doctors that lead poisoning should be considered when children have unusual combinations of symptoms that don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis.

This is a report about one child, so we cannot generalize the findings to all children with vomiting or lead exposure. We don’t know if other children with similar lead levels would respond the same way to treatment. The case doesn’t tell us how common it is for lead poisoning to present mainly as vomiting. Additionally, we don’t have long-term follow-up information about whether the boy’s improvements lasted or if there were any lasting effects from the lead exposure.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare providers should consider testing for lead poisoning in children who have unexplained vomiting, especially if they live near mining areas, old industrial sites, or have other risk factors for lead exposure. The evidence from this case suggests that removing lead from the body through chelation therapy can improve symptoms. However, prevention is better than treatment—children should be kept away from lead sources when possible. Confidence level: Moderate (based on one case, but consistent with known effects of lead).

Parents and doctors should care about this case if: a child has unexplained vomiting or stomach problems; the child lives near mining, industrial, or construction areas; the child has developmental delays or learning problems; or the child shows multiple symptoms that don’t fit one diagnosis. This is especially important in areas with known lead contamination or near old buildings with lead paint. People living far from industrial areas with no lead exposure risk may be less concerned, though lead can be found in unexpected places.

In this case, improvement in vomiting was noticed within days to weeks of starting treatment. However, the full effects of removing lead from the body may take months. Some damage from long-term lead exposure, particularly to the brain and learning, may be permanent or take a long time to improve. Early detection and treatment are important to prevent further damage.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track vomiting frequency and severity (number of episodes per day/week) along with environmental factors like proximity to industrial areas or construction. Note any other symptoms like concentration problems, growth measurements, or learning difficulties. If lead exposure is suspected, track blood lead levels over time during and after treatment.
  • If you suspect lead exposure: (1) Document your location and any nearby industrial or mining facilities; (2) Request blood lead level testing from your doctor; (3) If positive, work with your healthcare provider on a treatment plan; (4) Reduce exposure by cleaning frequently, washing hands before eating, and keeping children away from contaminated areas.
  • Set up monthly reminders to track symptom improvement (vomiting frequency, concentration, growth). If undergoing lead removal treatment, schedule follow-up blood tests as recommended by your doctor (typically every 2-4 weeks initially). Create a log of environmental exposures and health improvements to share with your healthcare team. Monitor for any new symptoms that might indicate ongoing exposure.

This case report describes one child’s experience with lead poisoning and should not be used for self-diagnosis. Lead poisoning symptoms can overlap with many other conditions. If your child has unexplained vomiting, developmental delays, or learning problems, especially if you live near industrial areas, consult a healthcare provider for proper testing and diagnosis. Do not attempt any treatment without medical supervision. Blood lead level testing and chelation therapy should only be performed under professional medical care. This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.