Otherwise screening should be targeted based on a questionnaire on age of housing, recent or ongoing remodeling, and having a sibling or playmate diagnosed with lead poisoning, in addition to questions on locally important risk factors.9
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the CDC recommendations.2 The US Preventive Services Task Force, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Preventive Medicine all recommend screening for lead poisoning at 12 months of age in children with demographic or geographic risk factors.3,10,11
CLINICAL COMMENTARY
Lead screening: Think locally
Julia Fashner, MD
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind
The local health department can provide information about lead screening in your community, whether based on blood levels or the housing conditions. If your patients need screening, you may want to add a reminder on a flow sheet in the chart to do a questionnaire or a blood draw. Finding and treating severely elevated lead levels can change outcomes, but for less elevated levels, the evidence shows no benefit. You should work with the health department when considering therapy for children with elevated blood lead levels.