The Sokoto State Government has intensified surveillance, case management and public health laboratory investigations following rising cases of suspected heavy metal poisoning in the state.
Dr Faruk Abubakar, the State Commissioner for Health, made this known while addressing journalists in Sokoto on Friday after communities in Tureta Local Government Area reported 32 cases of a mysterious illness, primarily affecting children.
The disease is characterised by severe abdominal swelling and body pain.
Abubakar urged the public to seek medical attention for children presenting symptoms such as abdominal swelling, pain, fever, and leg swelling at the nearest General Hospital.
“To this effect, we have directed all Principal Medical Officers in General Hospitals to accept and commence palliative treatment for all affected children.
“We have intensified surveillance, case management, and public health laboratory investigations.
“Moreover, I wish to assure the public that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is currently in the state conducting research to identify the cause of the poisoning and recommend preventive measures,” he said.
The commissioner further assured the public of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu’s commitment to providing all the necessary medications for managing cases at the hospitals.
“Treatment and supportive care will be provided at no cost to affected children and their families.”
“Therefore, we encourage the public to take all affected children to the nearest General Hospital for proper treatment,” he advised.
Cleveland Clinic, USA, reports that heavy metal poisoning occurs when microscopic molecules of metals accumulate within your body after exposure. Heavy metals attach to your cells and prevent them from performing their functions, which causes symptoms that could be life threatening without treatment.
Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life threatening, and they can cause irreversible damage.
What metals cause heavy metal poisoning (toxicity)?
Several metals can be toxic to your body. The most common toxic metals are:
Lead Contaminated water from lead pipes, batteries, paint, gasoline, construction materials; Mercury Liquid in thermometers, light bulbs, batteries, seafood, topical antiseptics; Arsenic Topical creams, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, paints, enamels, glass, contaminated water, seafood, algae; Cadmium Cigarette smoke, metal plating, batteries and Thallium Rodenticides, pesticides, fireworks.
How does someone get heavy metal poisoning?
Heavy metal poisoning occurs from exposure to heavy metals. Heavy metals form naturally within the Earth’s crust. We interact with small amounts of heavy metals every day, like when you check the temperature of your thermometer, which uses mercury. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when metals get into your body.
This can happen if you’re exposed to a large amount of metal including eating a lot of food that contains metals like fish, drinking water from older water supply systems. working with metals on the job, taking medications or supplements with high amounts of metallic elements, handling metals or products made with a large amount of metal (like paint or pesticides) without using personal protective equipment.
Most metals that cause poisoning are in a microscopic (molecular) form when they enter your body. They are so small; you won’t be able to see them. Heavy metals can enter your body by absorbing into your skin, breathing in or inhaling tiny metal molecules, eating or drinking (ingesting) the metal from food or water.
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