Outbreak investigation of lead neurotoxicity in children from artificial jewelry cottage industry

Table 1 Characteristics of cases and controls

	Cases (n = 15)	Controls (n = 14)	Odds ratio	p value
Demography
Age, mean ± S.D. (years)	3.9 ± 4.1	5.3 ± 1.9	–	0.56^a
Male, freq. (%)	9 (60.0%)	7 (50.0)	–	0.59^b
Exposure history
Lead smelting inside house	12 (80.0%)	5 (35.7%)	7.20 [1.40–38.30]	0.04 ^b
House painting/renovation in past year	1 (6.7%)	2 (14.3%)	0.43 [0.03–5.30]	0.59^b
Use of surma^c	1 (6.7%)	3 (21.4%)	0.26 [0.02–2.88]	0.33^b
Pica, freq	3 (20.0%)	2 (14.3%)	1.50 [0.21–10.65]	1.00^b
Investigations
Weight, mean ± S.D. (kg)	10.2 ± 5.7	14.4 ± 4.6	–	0.03 ^a
Hb, mean ± S.D. (gm/dL)	8.5 ± 1.4	10.8 ± 2.1	–	0.003 ^a
BLL, mean ± S.D. (μg/dL)	42.6 ± 22.5	8.7 ± 1.2	–	< 0.001 ^a

All figures in round parentheses represent column-wise percentages. Figures in square parentheses represent 95% CI
Abbreviations: Hb hemoglobin, BLL blood lead levels
^ap values calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test
^bp values calculated using the Fisher exact test
^cSurma is the local word for kohl used as a traditional eye cosmetic and has been known to have high lead

ISSN: 1347-4715