Radiation sickness is a disease that develops after being exposed to a lot of ionizing radiation in a short period of time. Generally, the symptoms of this disease are predictable, especially with exposure to unexpected and sudden high levels of radiation. In the medical world, this disease is known as acute radiation syndrome, radiation injury, radiation toxicity, or radiation poisoning. These symptoms develop quickly and are related to the level of radiation exposure. Exposure to radiation that can cause disease is rare.
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Radiation Disease
Step 1. Watch for the development of radiation sickness symptoms
Pay attention to the development of symptoms, their severity, and time. Doctors can estimate the level of radiation exposure to a person from the nature and timing of symptoms that appear. The severity of these symptoms varies, depending on the dose of radiation exposure and the organs of the body that have absorbed the radiation.
- Several factors that determine the level of radiation sickness include the type of exposure, duration of exposure, radiation strength, body parts exposed, and the amount of radiation absorbed by the body.
- Body cells that are very sensitive to radiation exposure include the lining of the stomach and intestinal tract, as well as bone marrow cells that produce new blood cells.
- The appearance of symptoms depends on the level of radiation exposure. The initial symptoms of exposure to the gastrointestinal tract can be felt within 10 minutes.
- Direct radiation exposure to the skin will quickly cause redness, rash, and burning sensation on the skin.
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms
Radiation exposure risk of radiation sickness cannot be predicted due to various factors. However, the appearance of these symptoms can be expected. The level of radiation exposure, ranging from mild to very severe, can modify the timing of the development of radiation sickness symptoms. The following are the symptoms that appear in this disease:
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Disorientation
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Feeling weak and tired
- Hair loss
- Vomiting and defecating blood
- An infection occurs and the wound takes a long time to heal
- Low blood pressure
Step 3. Know the level of radiation exposure
There are four categories and ranges of exposure that can be used to diagnose the severity of radiation sickness. This rate is based on short and sudden exposure. Severity is determined by the level of exposure and symptoms.
- Mild severity is exposure that causes the body to absorb 1-2 units of gray (Gy).
- Moderate severity is exposure that causes the body to absorb 2-6 Gy.
- Severe severity is exposure that makes the body absorb 6-9 Gy.
- Severity is very severe, namely exposure that makes the body absorb at least 10 Gy.
- Doctors can estimate the dose that has been absorbed by the body by measuring the time between exposure and the appearance of the first symptoms, namely nausea and vomiting.
- Nausea and vomiting within 10 minutes of exposure are considered very severe exposures. While on light exposure, nausea and vomiting occur within 6 hours.
Step 4. Understand the meaning of each number
Radiation exposure measurements are carried out in various ways. Radiation sickness rate in the United States is defined as the amount of radiation absorbed by the body.
- Measurement of each type of radiation using different units. Each country may even use different units from each other.
- In the US, absorbed radiation has units of gray or abbreviated as Gy, or rad, or rem. The conversion values for each unit are: 1 Gy = 100 rad, and 1 rad = 1 rem.
- The brake equivalent of various types of radiation is not always expressed as described. The information here describes only the basic conversion factors.
Step 5. Know the radiation exposure method
There are two kinds of possible exposure: contamination and irradiation. Irradiation takes the form of exposure to emission, radiation waves, or particles, while contamination takes the form of direct contact with radioactive dust or liquid.
- Acute radiation sickness occurs only with irradiation. Direct contact allows the body to be irradiated.
- Radiation contamination makes radioactive material absorbed into the skin and carried to the bone marrow, causing health problems, such as cancer.
Step 6. Know the possible causes of this disease
Radiation sickness is possible but actual incidents are rare. Workplace accidents that cause radiation exposure can cause radiation sickness. Natural disasters that damage building structures containing heavy radiation, such as nuclear power plants, may also be the cause.
- Natural disasters, such as earthquakes or hurricanes, can damage nuclear facilities and cause harmful radiation to leak out, although this type of structural damage is unlikely.
- War that uses nuclear weapons can have far-reaching effects that cause radiation sickness.
- The use of dirty bombs in terrorist attacks can cause radiation sickness to the victims.
- Space tourism carries the risk of radiation exposure.
- Although possible, medical equipment will not be able to cause an increase in this disease.
- All around us is nuclear energy. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the public from accidental radiation exposure.
Part 2 of 3: Comparing Types of Radiation
Step 1. Identify the types of radiation
Radiation is everywhere around us. Some are in the form of waves and some are in the form of particles. Radiation can be felt and has no risk at all, but there is also radiation that is harsh and dangerous if exposed to the body. There are 2 types of radiation and 4 main types of radiation emission.
- There are two forms of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing.
- The four most common types of radioactive emission emissions include alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and X rays.
Step 2. Know the benefits of ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation particles can carry a certain amount of energy. Particles in this energy will cause changes when they come into contact with other charged particles, but this is not always a bad thing.
- Ionizing radiation is also used safely on a CT scan or chest X-ray. Radiation exposure used as a diagnostic aid, such as CT scans or X-rays, does not have clear boundaries.
- Various fields of study known as non-destructive testing, or NDT, publish guidelines that describe the recommended limit for exposure due to the use of medical equipment, which is 0.05 rem per year.
- Your doctor or illness may set specific limits for you if you are regularly exposed to radiation due to a method of treating a disease, such as cancer.
Step 3. Find out if non-ionizing radiation is safe for the body
Non-ionizing radiation does no harm to the body and is contained in the items you use every day. Microwave ovens, infrared toasters, lawn fertilizers, smoke detectors, and cell phones are examples of non-ionizing radiation.
- Common foodstuffs such as white potatoes, wheat flour, meat, fruit and vegetables, poultry, and eggs, have been irradiated with non-ionizing radiation as a final step before being sold in supermarkets.
- Many reputable institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association, support food irradiation procedures to help control harmful bacteria and parasites when they enter the body.
- Smoke detectors work by continuously emitting low levels of non-ionizing radiation. The smoke will block the presence of these beams thereby telling the detector to set off an alarm.
Step 4. Identify the types of radioactive emissions
When you are exposed to ionizing radiation, the type of emission present will affect the degree of illness you may experience. Four common types of emission include alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and X rays.
- Alpha particles do not radiate very long distances and are difficult to penetrate anything that has substance. These particles release all their energy into a small coverage area.
- Alpha particles are difficult to penetrate the skin, but will do a lot of damage by killing nearby tissue and cells if they enter the body.
- Beta particles radiate farther than alpha particles, but are also difficult to penetrate skin or clothing.
- Just like alpha particles, beta particles are still harmful to the body if they manage to penetrate the skin layer.
- Gamma rays radiate at the speed of light and penetrate skin material and tissue more easily. Gamma rays are the most dangerous form of radiation.
- X-rays also radiate at the speed of light and can enter the body. This makes X-Rays useful in medical diagnostics as well as certain industries.
Part 3 of 3: Treating Radiation Disease
Step 1. Seek immediate medical attention
Call 118 or 119 and leave the irradiated area as soon as possible. Don't wait until radiation symptoms get worse. If you think you have been exposed to ionizing radiation, seek treatment as soon as you can. Radiation sickness in mild to moderate levels can be treated, but severe levels are usually fatal to the body.
- When you think you have been exposed to radiation, remove all clothing and materials you are wearing and put them in a plastic bag.
- Immediately wash the body with soap and water. Do not rub your skin because it can irritate and destroy the skin causing radiation on the surface of the skin to enter the body.
Step 2. Determine the level of radiation exposure
The main factors in determining the diagnosis of radiation severity are knowing the type of ionizing radiation at the site of exposure and the amount of exposure that has been absorbed by the body.
- The goals of treating radiation sickness include avoiding more severe contamination, overcoming critical problems that can be life-threatening, reducing exposure symptoms, and managing pain.
- People who experience mild to moderate exposure and receive treatment usually should make a full recovery. Blood cells of people who have suffered radiation exposure will begin to recover after 4-5 weeks.
- Severe and very severe radiation exposure leading to death will show its consequences from 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure.
- Often, the causes of death from radiation sickness are infection and internal bleeding.
Step 3. Get prescription medication
Symptoms for radiation sickness are usually treated effectively in the hospital. The forms of treatment that exist include keeping the body hydrated, controlling the progressive development of radiation symptoms, preventing infection, and recovering the body from radiation.
- Antibiotic prescriptions for infections caused by radiation sickness are usually given to people who are more at risk for radiation sickness.
- Bone marrow is sensitive to radiation. Therefore, certain drugs that promote the growth of blood cells will be given to you.
- Treatment of radiation sickness may also include colony-stimulating factors, use of blood products, bone marrow transplantation, and stem cell transplantation as needed. Sometimes, a transfusion of platelets and/or blood can help repair damage to the bone marrow.
- People undergoing treatment are usually treated separately from other people so as not to transmit the infection. Visits for the patient are sometimes limited to reduce contamination changes to the infectious agent.
- Drugs are available to help restore damaged organs, depending on the type of emission or radiation particles that damage the body.
Step 4. Get supportive care
Treatment of radiation sickness symptoms is part of the treatment, but for people receiving high doses (higher than 10 Gy), the goal of this treatment is to make the person feel as comfortable as possible.
- Examples of supportive care include aggressive pain care and treatment for visible symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.
- Religious as well as psychological counseling may be provided.
Step 5. Monitor your health
Compared to normal people, people who are exposed to radiation causing radiation sickness are more at risk for health problems in later years, including cancer.
- Single, rapid, and large radiation to the body can be fatal. The same radiation dose but exposed over a period of weeks or months is more likely to be treated.
- Experimental research on animals has shown that severe irradiation can cause birth defects caused by irradiated reproductive cells. However, despite the risks to the development of the ovum, sperm, and genetic changes, the same effect does not necessarily apply to humans.
Step 6. Pay attention to radiation exposure where you work
OSHA has set standards in the form of guidelines for facilities and companies that use equipment that emits ionizing radiation. There are many other types of radiation besides those discussed in this article, and there are many safe applications of radiation that are important in our daily lives.
- Workers exposed to radiation in the course of their work are usually required to wear a cumulative radiation dose tracking badge.
- Workers should not work in a risky environment unless they have reached company or government limits, unless an emergency has been declared.
- In the US, the standard limit for radiation exposure in the workplace is 5 rem per year. In emergency situations, this limit can be increased to 25 rem per year. This amount is still considered a safe amount.
- Once your body recovers from radiation exposure, you can return to work in the same environment. There are no guidelines and there is little evidence that repeated radiation exposure may be detrimental to health in the future.
