Radiation sickness is caused by damage to the body by radiation, usually in large exposures that occur over a short period of time. The degree of sickness is determined by the dose of radiation, which means how much radiation the body absorbs. Radiation sickness can also be called radiation poisoning, acute radiation syndrome and acute radiation sickness. Low doses of radiation, such as those received during x-ray tests, do not cause radiation sickness. Radiation sickness is a serious medical condition that is often fatal, but it is also a rare condition. Although it is a rare condition, there are treatments for radiation sickness. The treatments for radiation sickness are designed to eliminate further radiation contamination, reduce symptoms, treat organs and manage pain.
Decontamination
External clothing and shoes should be immediately removed upon exposure to high doses of radiation. Skins should be washed with water and soap to remove particles that could provide additional radiation exposure and inhalation or ingestion of the particles. These particles could also infect any open wounds present.
Bone Marrow Treatment
Because radiation sickness can cause damage to bone marrow, patients may be treated with a protein called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. This protein stimulates the production of white blood cells, which can counter the effects of radiation on bone marrow. Treatments of red blood cells and platelets are also sometimes prescribed.
Internal Organ Treatment
These treatments are designed to reduce the damage done to internal organs by the exposure to radiation. These treatments include potassium iodide, which is a nonradioactive form of iodine. This would help the thyroid in the case of contamination with radioactive iodine, which is absorbed by the thyoid. These treatments also include Prussian blue, which is a dye. This dye attaches to radioactive particles of thallium and cesium and accelerates the body's elimination of the radioactive particles and may help to reduce the body's absorption of radiation. Another treatment is called diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, which attaches to metallic radioactive particles and helps the body to eliminate them more quickly.
Other Treatments
Medications and other treatments can be given to treat conditions that can accompany radiation sickness, such as headaches, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bacterial infections and dehydration.
End of Life Care
Because there is little chance for survival from a large dose of radiation, end of life care and treatments to make patients comfortable and to ease the pain can be given.
