Primary aims of treating acute radiation sickness are - caring for serious injuries and burns, preventing further radioactive contamination or decontamination, managing pain, easing symptoms. Radiation exposure cannot be treated and cured altogether.
Treatments and Medications for Acute Radiation Sickness
New York (USA), June 26, 2013
Primary aims of treating acute radiation sickness are:
– Care for serious injuries and burns
– Prevent further radioactive contamination or decontamination
– Manage pain
– Ease symptoms
Treatments Options and Medications for Acute Radiation Sickness
Decontamination
This is done through decontamination. Removing clothing and shoes can do away with more than ninety percent of external radioactive contamination. Wash body with soap and water to remove all possible radioactive particles from skin. Dry and wear soft and clean clothes. Sometimes you could have ingested radioactive minerals. Medical personnel remove such internal contamination through:
Prussian Blue: This dye binds with radioactive elements like thallium and cesium. They are thereafter excreted through feces.
Potassium Iodide: Your thyroid gland absorbs any type of iodine. When you suffer internal radioactive contamination, thyroid gland could absorb radioiodine. Potassium iodide (nonradioactive form of iodine) treatment prevents such absorption and radioiodine is excreted through urine. However, the best results are seen if potassium iodide treatment is done within a day of radiation exposure.
Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA): This acid attaches to radioactive element particles like americium, plutonium, and curium. It is thereafter excreted through urine.
Treating Damaged Bone Marrow
Radioactive elements attack your bone marrow and reduce its ability to secrete blood cells. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is a protein that counter attacks such disability. Medications like pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) and filgrastim (Neupogen) increase production of white blood cells and prevent further infections. However, if your bone marrow is damaged severely, you should undergo transfusion of blood platelets or red blood cells.
Managing Pain and Symptoms
If you suffer from symptoms like fever, headache, diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, nausea, burns, or infections, doctors prescribe suitable medications to treat such symptoms and ease your discomfort.
However, if radiation ingestion is extensive and there is very little chance of recovery, doctors offer only simple medications with extensive psychological support to ease pain. Death can occur within two days or two weeks.
Radiation exposure cannot be treated and cured altogether. Effects require long-term monitoring for many years to regulate and treat delayed effects.
Acute Radiation Sickness – Definition and Diagnosis
Definition and Diagnosis of Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Causes and Evaluation
Causes and Evaluation of Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Signs and Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Complications and Risk Factors
Complications and Risk Factors for Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Clinical Trials and Research Studies
Clinical Trials and Research Studies on Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies
Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies for Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Prevention and Coping
Prevention and Coping with Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help
Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help for Acute Radiation Sickness
Acute Radiation Sickness – Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies
Acute Radiation Sickness – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies