Signs of Radiation exposure (Radiation sickness)

Description

Injury to the body from radiation. Radiation travels through the air as waves or fast moving very small particles. Radiation cannot be seen and special machines called Geiger counters are needed to measure and detect the radiation. Everyone is exposed to radiation from the sun and the natural surrounding. Man-made radiation is used in x-rays, to treat cancer, for nuclear energy and as weapons. Being exposed to radiation over a long period of time can damage the genes causing a patient to have cancer or pass the abnormal genes onto their children. Higher doses of radiation causes radiation sickness. Radiation sickness causes hair loss, burns, organ damage, and if the dose is high enough death.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the dose of radiation and how long a patient is exposed. Lower doses cause nausea, and vomiting. Higher doses result in diarrhea, headache, fever, dizziness, confusion, hair loss, vomiting of blood, bloody stools, low blood pressure and death.

Tests

A history and physical exam will be done. Blood tests such as a complete blood cell count will be performed to detect any damage to the bone marrow that produces white blood cells. A Geiger counter may be used to detect radiation particles coming from the patient.

Treatment

Therapy is aimed at decontamination, treating internal contamination, and trying to prevent damage to the white blood cells. If the radiation exposure is high patients will be decontaminated in a secure area to prevent exposing other patients. Healthcare providers will wear protective clothing as well. All contaminated clothing should be removed and the patient should be cleaned with soap and water. Decontamination should be done as soon as possible to prevent on-going radiation damage. The medications used depend on the type of radiation exposure and include: potassium iodide, prussian blue, and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). Patients with possible damaged bone marrow may be given filgrastim (Neupogen) or pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) to stimulate white blood cell production. Damage to the internal organs causing dehydration, low blood pressure, bleeding or confusion will be treated as needed.