The signs and symptoms of radiation sickness depend on the severity of exposure. Radiation exposure is measured in a unit called the gray (Gy). Symptoms may appear when the entire body receives a dose of 1 Gy or greater. For comparison, a typical diagnostic X-ray delivers approximately 0.1 Gy to a small, localized area of the body. A dose greater than 6 Gy is generally considered untreatable and is usually fatal.
A whole-body dose between 1 and 2 Gy typically produces nausea and vomiting within six hours. Within several weeks, patients may begin to experience weakness and fatigue. With more severe exposure, between 2 and 4 Gy, additional symptoms may develop within one to four weeks, including hair loss, bloody vomit or stools, poor wound healing, infections, and low blood pressure.
Higher exposure levels, between 2 and 6 Gy, usually cause nausea and vomiting within two hours, along with possible diarrhea, fever, and headache. Very severe exposure, 8 Gy or higher, produces nausea and vomiting within minutes, often within ten minutes. This level of exposure may also cause immediate dizziness, disorientation, weakness, fatigue, hair loss, and bloody vomiting.
Initial treatment begins with decontamination, which involves removing all exposed clothing and thoroughly washing the skin to remove radioactive particles. This step is critical to prevent further absorption and internal distribution of radioactive material.
One of the most serious long-term consequences of radiation exposure is bone marrow damage. In moderate to severe cases, patients often experience impaired wound healing and increased susceptibility to infection. Treatment may include protein-based medications such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps mitigate bone marrow suppression.
Certain substances may be used to reduce organ damage caused by specific radioactive particles. These treatments are exposure-specific. Potassium iodide is used to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine. Some individuals have taken potassium iodide prophylactically in anticipation of possible exposure, based on the mistaken belief that it is a general protective agent. Potassium iodide cannot prevent radioactive iodine from entering the body; it can only reduce uptake by the thyroid gland. It does not protect other organs, does not reverse thyroid damage once it has occurred, and offers no protection against radioactive elements other than iodine. If radioactive iodine is not present, potassium iodide provides no benefit. A physician should be consulted before taking potassium iodide, as some individuals are allergic to iodine and people with thyroid disease should not take iodine without medical supervision.
Prussian blue is a dye that binds to radioactive cesium and thallium, facilitating their elimination from the body through the gastrointestinal tract. Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) is a chelating agent that binds to certain radioactive metals, including plutonium, americium, and curium, allowing them to be excreted through the urine.
Educational note:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
