I’m a parenting expert – the little-known disease that kills your children and their toys could put them at risk

PARENTS know not to be “overzealous” when it comes to safety.

Children are born knowing that they are putting themselves in danger, and no matter how hard you try, there is no way you can protect your child from every potential danger.

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That’s why it’s especially important that you know the signs of a deadly disease that could have long-term effects on your family, and that even your children’s toys can be dangerous.

It’s easy to assume that lead poisoning is a thing of the past, but despite improved safety standards in several industries, it still poses a threat to your child’s well-being, the experts at Parents Magazine warn.

Young children under the age of six are extremely vulnerable to the ill effects of lead poisoning, the parenting professionals said.

“Their bodies absorb lead more easily,” the outlet explained. “Infants and young children are also vulnerable because they may touch objects containing lead (such as lead paint shavings from door edges and window sills) and put their hands in their mouths.”

Lead poisoning remains a very real problem, as statistics make clear.

Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that lead poisoning is associated with 62.5 percent of intellectual disabilities where the cause is “not obvious” and that lead is associated with 900,000 deaths a year worldwide.

The tragic reality is that most parents don’t know what symptoms to look for, or they blame other conditions for the symptoms.

Headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, loss of appetite, joint pain, fatigue, and irritability or behavioral changes can be symptoms of lead poisoning.

Of course, many parents could safely say that these are also symptoms of infancy.

Because of this, you need to be on the lookout for patterns or symptoms that build up over time.

Lead exposure is so dangerous because it is cumulative – dangerous lead levels build up slowly and are not always recognized until serious damage has occurred, the experts said.

Your child is unlikely to ingest or be exposed to a fatal amount of lead all at once. If your child has been experiencing unexplained body cramps and abdominal discomfort for several days or weeks, it may be time to look for possible sources of exposure.

“Although lead paint was banned in the late 1970s, many older homes still contain the toxic metal,” the Parents experts write.

“Children can be exposed to paint shavings or dust, especially if they ingest or breathe it in.”

“Parents remodeling or completing construction on their older homes may unknowingly fill their homes with dangerous levels of lead,” the pros warn.

Some pipes can also leach lead into drinking water, another source of cumulative buildup.

If you suspect the source isn’t in the house itself, you might want to check your child’s toy box. Toxic lead is found in some old or antique toys.

Find out about safety recalls for used toys or those coming home from flea markets and thrift stores.

Some traditional medicines, like Azarcon and Greta, can contain lead, and if you’re breastfeeding it’s important to remember that your own lead exposure can be passed to your baby, the experts wrote.

If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead, take action as soon as possible.

Long term, the CDC warns that lead poisoning can lead to immunotoxicity as well as damage to the brain and nervous system.

These conditions can be fatal or lead to developmental delays, behavioral problems, and hearing or speech problems, so it’s best to take this threat very seriously.

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