Final answer:
The most severe effect of chronic lead poisoning in a young child admitted for treatment is central nervous system damage. So, correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The most serious effect of chronic lead poisoning in children is central nervous system damage. Chronic exposure to lead can result in a variety of adverse health outcomes, including intellectual disability, behavioral problems, and irreversible damage to the nervous system. This often manifests as developmental delays, lower IQ, and learning disabilities, which may not become apparent until a child grows older and begins to engage in more complex cognitive tasks.
While lead poisoning can also cause moderate anemia, renal tubule damage, and growth impairment, these effects tend to be less immediately detrimental than the potential for developmental and neurological damage. Therefore, when dealing with a young child admitted for treatment of lead poisoning, the nurse would recognize central nervous system damage as the most serious effect of chronic lead poisoning.
Lead exposure in infants and young children can cause a variety of adverse health effects, including developmental delays, lower IQ, hyperactivity, behavior and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia. However, the most serious effect of chronic lead poisoning is damage to the central nervous system. This can result in loss of IQ, impacts on learning, memory, and behavior, and even cardiovascular and renal effects in adults.