The symptoms associated with lead poisoning mimic other conditions or diseases, including autism. A child diagnosed with autism should be checked for lead poisoning. Early detection could allow some damage to be reversed. Cases of lead poisoning have been misdiagnosed as the flu and other conditions or illnesses before it was finally determined through testing that the patient had been exposed to a high concentration of lead, most commonly through paint, dust or water in homes that contain lead-based paint, lead pipes or where lead solder was used on copper piping.