Radiation sickness

Radiation sickness

Acute radiation sickness (ARS) is an independent disease that develops as a result of the death of predominantly dividing cells of the body under the influence of short-term (up to several days) exposure to ionizing radiation on large areas of the body. The cause of ARS can be either an accident or total body irradiation for therapeutic purposes - during bone marrow transplantation, during the treatment of multiple tumors. In the pathogenesis of the disease, cell death in the immediate lesions plays a decisive role.

No significant primary changes are observed in organs and systems that were not directly exposed to radiation. Under the influence of ionizing radiation, primarily dividing cells in the mitotic cycle die, but unlike the effect of most cytostatics (with the exception of myelosan, which acts at the level of stem cells), resting cells also die, and lymphocytes also die. Lymphopenia is one of the early and most important signs of acute radiation injury.

Fibroblasts in the body are highly resistant to radiation. After irradiation, they begin to grow rapidly, which in areas of significant damage contributes to the development of severe sclerosis. The most important features of acute radiation sickness include the strict dependence of its manifestations on the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation.

The clinical picture of ARS depends on the radiation dose and the time period that has passed after it. In its development, the disease goes through several stages. In the first hours after irradiation, a primary reaction appears (vomiting, fever, headache immediately after irradiation).

After a few days (the sooner, the higher the radiation dose), bone marrow depletion develops, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia develop in the blood. Various infectious processes, stomatitis, and hemorrhages appear. Between the primary reaction and the height of the disease, at radiation doses less than 5-6 Gy (500-600 rad), a period of external well-being is noted - the latent period.

The division of acute radiation sickness into periods of primary reaction, latent, height and recovery is inaccurate: purely external manifestations of the disease do not determine the true situation. When the victim is close to the radiation source, the reduction in the radiation dose absorbed throughout the human body is very significant. The part of the body facing the source is irradiated significantly more than the part opposite it.

Radiation sickness is a condition caused by exposure to ionizing radiation on the body. It can present with a variety of symptoms, including headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and weakness.

Radiation sickness can be caused by various sources of radiation, such as atomic bombs, medical X-ray machines, radioactive waste and other man-made sources.

If the body receives a high dose of radiation, it can lead to serious consequences. One of these consequences is radiation burns - damage to the skin and other body tissues. Radiation dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin that manifests itself as itching, peeling and redness, may also occur.

Symptoms of radiation sickness may not appear immediately after receiving a dose of radiation. Sometimes it takes several days or even weeks for the first symptoms to appear. However, the longer a person is exposed to radiation, the more severe the consequences can be.

Treatment for radiation sickness includes the use of antibiotics and other medications, as well as surgery if necessary. Many victims of radiation disasters face health problems, including disability and even death.

An important factor in protecting against radiation diseases is knowledge of radiation safety standards and the ability to properly handle sources of radiation. In addition, there are many preventative measures that can help reduce the risk of developing radiation sickness.

In general, radiation sickness poses a serious threat to human health and requires immediate medical attention.