Radiation Sickness

Archana Kudrimoti, MD, MBBS, MPH and Jennifer M. Courtier, MD Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

Radiation sickness, or acute radiation syndrome (ARS), is defined as an acute illness caused by radiation of most or all of the body with a relatively high dose of radiation over a short period...

DIAGNOSIS

Strong index of suspicion and knowledge of radiation event

HISTORY

Exposure to known source of radiation
- Damaged radioisotope-containing medical equipment
- Industrial sources
- Nuclear power plan...

TREATMENT

High-quality, randomized, controlled studies of therapeutic interventions for ARS are not available. Guidelines for treatment are from consensus panels based on reviews of reported incidents...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Isolation techniques for immune system injury

Patient Monitoring

Daily CBC with differential: platelet, granulocyte, and lymphocyte counts
Stool for occult blood
Vit...

REFERENCES

Coeytaux K, Bey E, Christensen D, et al. Reported radiation overexposure accidents worldwide, 1980–2013: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0118709. [View Abstract on OvidMed...

ADDITIONAL READING

Bui E, Joseph B, Rhee P, et al. Contemporary management of radiation exposure and injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014;77(3):495–500. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
Centers f...

CODES

ICD10

T66.XXXA Radiation sickness, unspecified, initial encounter

ICD9

990 Effects of radiation, unspecified

SNOMED

370402009 Radiation sickness (disorder)
360002 Acute radiation disease (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

Radiation interactions with atoms can result in ionization and the formation of free radicals that damage tissue by disrupting chemical bonds and molecular structures in the cell, incl...

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