Lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use

Lead poisoning is an uncommon and challenging diagnosis to make. In 2018, The Victorian Department of Health issued a health warning following four cases of lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use in Melbourne, Australia. We present these cases to highlight clinical features and the relevan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Internal medicine journal 2020-02, Vol.50 (2), p.239-242
Main Authors: Wong, Joshua, Bourke, Elyssia, Roberts, Vanessa, Lim, Seok M., Johnson, Douglas, Hamblin, Peter S., Karunajeewa, Harin, Greene, Shaun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Australia
Diagnosis
Emigrants and Immigrants
Humans
Immigrants
Iran
Iran - ethnology
Lead - blood
Lead content
Lead poisoning
Lead Poisoning - blood
Lead Poisoning - diagnosis
Male
opioid
Opioids
opium
Opium Dependence - blood
Poisoning
Young Adult
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Summary:Lead poisoning is an uncommon and challenging diagnosis to make. In 2018, The Victorian Department of Health issued a health warning following four cases of lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use in Melbourne, Australia. We present these cases to highlight clinical features and the relevant investigations leading to diagnosis. All cases occurred in recent immigrants to Australia, who had access to non‐traditional sources of opioids. Health care professionals should consider lead poisoning in patients with appropriate symptoms and a history of illicit opium use.
ISSN:1444-0903
1445-5994
DOI:10.1111/imj.14729