A child hospitalized with lead poisoning will require which medication?

The medication indicated for a child hospitalized with lead poisoning is Dimercaprol, also known as BAL in Oil. Dimercaprol is a chelating agent that binds to lead in the bloodstream, facilitating its excretion from the body through the kidneys. This process helps reduce the toxic effects of lead on various organs, particularly the nervous system, which can be severely affected in cases of lead poisoning.

Dimercaprol works effectively during acute lead toxicity, making it an essential part of the treatment protocol. It is administered typically via intramuscular injection and is particularly useful when lead exposure leads to symptoms or higher blood lead levels that necessitate intervention.

In contrast, activated charcoal is not effective for lead poisoning because it does not bind lead in the same way it would for some other toxins. Sodium bicarbonate is primarily used to manage acidosis and has no role in treating lead poisoning. Lastly, syrup of ipecac is an emetic that is no longer recommended in many cases for poisoning because it can lead to complications, and it is not effective for lead. Therefore, Dimercaprol is specifically indicated for treating lead toxicity.