Answer
The baby has been gnawing the window sill and ingesting lead from the lead based paint Lead is a neurotoxin and one of its noxious effects is the demyelination of myelinated nerve fibers. Myelination improves the speed and efficiency of conduction of nerve impulses; demyelination disrupts the propagation of nerve stimuli.
Work Step by Step
The following signs and symptoms (SS ) would result from demyelination of the baby's nerve fibers:
1. Deterioration of organization of nerve fibers.
2. Loss/lack of sensations.
3. Loss of motor control.
4. Decrease in speed of travel of nervous stimuli.
5 . Problems with coordinating movements of parts of the body.
Children are more susceptible to nerve damage by heavy metals than adults are. In addition, demyelination of the CNS ( most parts of it) causes permanent nerve damage which results in lifelong disability.
