What is the preferred treatment for lead poisoning in children?

The preferred treatment for lead poisoning in children is Calcium EDTA. This agent acts as a chelating agent, which means it binds to lead in the bloodstream and facilitates its excretion through the kidneys. Lead can accumulate in various tissues of the body, causing toxic effects, particularly in the developing nervous system of children. The use of Calcium EDTA is favored due to its effectiveness in reducing blood lead levels and its relative safety in pediatric patients.

Activated charcoal is typically used for the treatment of oral poisonings to absorb toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is not effective for lead poisoning once the lead has entered systemic circulation.

Dimercaprol (BAL) is another chelating agent that was historically used for lead poisoning but is less preferred than Calcium EDTA due to its side effects and the availability of better options.

Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist, used in cases of benzodiazepine overdose, and has no applicability in treating lead poisoning.

Thus, Calcium EDTA not only effectively removes lead from the body but also is the standard treatment adopted in clinical guidelines for pediatric lead poisoning.