A worker in a battery manufacturing plant presents with abdominal colic, wrist drop, and blue line on gingival margin. The most likely diagnosis is poisoning due to:
- A Mercury
- B Arsenic
- C Lead ✓
- D Cadmium
Correct answer: C. Lead
Explanation
Lead poisoning (plumbism) classically presents with the triad of abdominal colic (lead colic), wrist drop (peripheral motor neuropathy), and Burton's line (blue-black gingival line from lead sulfide deposition). Battery manufacturing workers are at high risk. Biochemically, lead inhibits aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and ferrochelatase, causing microcytic hypochromic anemia with basophilic stippling.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.