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When Radiation Attacks the Human Body: What Are Some Surprising Early Symptoms?
Radiation sickness, or acute radiation syndrome (ARS), is a range of health effects caused by exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation over a short period of time. Particularly in the aftermath of atomic bomb attacks, nuclear reactor accidents, and during certain cancer treatments, these symptoms may appear within just minutes to hours of exposure and may be accompanied by temporary improvements. This article will explore the types of initial symptoms and potential effects when the human body is attacked by radiation.
Background of Acute Radiation SyndromeAcute radiation syndrome results from exposure to radiation doses above 0.7 Gy over a short period of time, usually delivered by an external source.
Symptoms of ARS usually begin with nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite and may last for several months. The severity of these symptoms depends on the radiation dose received and are generally divided into three major categories: hematopoietic, digestive, and neurological syndromes.
Characteristics of early symptoms
Early symptoms typically include nausea, headache, fatigue, and redness of the skin, which can occur with radiation doses as low as 0.35 Gy.
Initial symptoms may resemble those of common illnesses, making initial diagnosis difficult. Hematopoietic syndrome generally leads to a decrease in blood cell count, resulting in susceptibility to infection, bleeding and anemia, while digestive syndrome is accompanied by severe vomiting and abdominal pain. Neurologic syndromes usually occur after exposures above 30 Gy and are associated with a generally poor prognosis.
Effects of exposure dose
The higher the dose, the shorter the delay in symptoms. This means that different symptoms can appear at different rates when exposed to high doses of radiation over a short period of time. For example, symptoms of hematopoietic syndrome can usually be detected at doses up to 0.25 grays, while digestive syndrome requires doses of 6 to 30 grays. Vomiting during this time is usually indicative of overall exposure, especially in the range of more than 4 grays.
Skin changes and their consequences
Skin symptoms caused by radiation are called cutaneous radiation syndrome (CRS). Within a few hours after irradiation, the skin may become red and swollen with itching, followed by a latent period, and eventually severe redness, swelling, blisters and ulcers may occur. Excessive radiation doses may also cause permanent hair loss and necrosis of skin tissue.
How to diagnose acute radiation syndrome
Intuitive diagnosis usually relies on the patient's radiation exposure history and clinical manifestations, including measurement of absolute lymphocyte counts.
The duration of radiation exposure and the onset of vomiting are both key indicators for estimating the exposure dose, especially when the exposure dose is below 10 Gy. This information helps medical professionals determine the patient's condition and develop appropriate treatment strategies.
Treatment and its challenges
Treatment of ARS is generally supportive care, which may include blood transfusions, antibiotics, and stem cell transplantation. For inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine, the use of a potassium iodine compound will be necessary. The challenge of treatment lies in the diversity of symptoms and the varying severity of the disease.
Prevention and Risk Reduction
The basic principle of radiation safety is "As Low As Possible" (ALARA), which means minimizing exposure.
Strategies to prevent radiation harm include reducing exposure time, increasing distance, and improving shielding. These precautions can theoretically reduce the harm caused by a radiation accident should it occur.
For known radiation exposure situations, it is critical to provide necessary first aid and logistical support. In this invisible battle, how can we improve our understanding of radiation risks to ensure our safety?
