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Sub-Category:

Herbal and Alternative Medicine Toxicity

Number of Conditions: 1

Heavy metal contamination in traditional remedies

Specialty: Toxicology

Category: Miscellaneous Toxicological Conditions

Sub-category: Herbal and Alternative Medicine Toxicity

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; headache; fatigue; cognitive impairment; kidney dysfunction; anemia; peripheral neuropathy

Root Cause:
Presence of toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) in traditional or alternative remedies due to contamination or intentional adulteration during manufacturing.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood and urine tests to detect heavy metal levels; clinical history of remedy use; imaging or organ function tests for damage assessment.

Treatment:
Immediate discontinuation of the remedy; chelation therapy for heavy metal removal; supportive care for symptoms and organ damage management.

Medications:
Chelating agents such as dimercaprol (a chelating agent for arsenic , mercury, and lead poisoning), succimer (an oral chelator for lead poisoning), and calcium disodium EDTA (used for lead chelation therapy).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Prevalence varies geographically but is significant in regions with widespread use of unregulated traditional remedies.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Use of imported or locally made traditional remedies, lack of regulatory oversight, cultural reliance on alternative medicine, and socioeconomic factors limiting access to conventional healthcare.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the level and duration of exposure; early intervention improves outcomes, while delayed treatment may lead to irreversible organ damage or chronic health issues.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic kidney disease, neurotoxicity, developmental delays in children, anemia, cardiovascular issues, and increased cancer risk (e.g., arsenic-related carcinogenesis).