Radiation sickness: signs, symptoms and consequences. Acute radiation sickness, degrees, treatment, symptoms, signs 2nd degree of radiation sickness

With radiation sickness, the level of ionizing radiation is at a level of 1 to 10 Gray or more. A person can get sick with such an ailment due to the ingress of radioactive substances through the air, toxic food, mucous membranes, and also through injections. The type of clinical manifestations depends on the level of exposure. So, for example, when hit by ionization up to one Gray, the body experiences slight changes, which is called the state of pre-illness. Irradiation doses greater than ten Gy have a negative effect on the activity of the stomach, intestines, and blood-forming organs are affected. The condition when irradiated in a volume of more than ten Grays is considered fatal to the human body. Let's try to understand the symptoms and treatment of radiation sickness.

Causes

Radiation sickness is provoked by radiation that penetrates the human body and provokes destructive changes in the organs and systems of the human body.

Basic prerequisites:

Radiation can enter through:

dermis;
mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, nose;
lungs during normal inhalation of air;
blood when injecting drugs;
lungs during inhalation procedures, etc.

Classification

In modern medical practice, there are several stages of the disease:

acute;
subacute;
chronic stage.

There are several types of radiation that provoke radiation sickness:

A-radiation - an increased ionization density, reduced penetrating power are relevant for it;
B-radiation - here there is a weak ionization and penetrating ability;
Y-study - characterized by deep tissue damage in the area of its action;
neutron radiation - characterized by uneven damage to tissue linings and organs.

Phases:

phase number 1 - the skin turns red, swelling appears, the temperature rises;
phase No. 2 - occurs 4-5 days after irradiation, there is a decrease in blood pressure, an unstable pulse, a violation of the structure of the skin, hair loss, reflex sensitivity decreases, problems with motor skills, movement are observed;
phase No. 3 - characterized by vivid manifestations of symptoms of radiation sickness, the hematopoietic and circulatory systems are affected, bleeding is observed, the temperature rises, the mucous membrane of the stomach and other internal organs is affected;
phase No. 4 - the patient's condition gradually improves, but for a long time the so-called asthenovegetative syndrome can be observed, the level of hemoglobin in the blood drops sharply.

Depending on the level of damage to the body by radiation, 4 degrees of radiation sickness are distinguished:

mild degree, in which the level of exposure is in the range from one to two Grays;
stage medium, when the level of exposure is in the range from two to four Grays;
severe degree - the level of radiation is fixed in the range from four to six Gy;
fatal when the exposure level is more than six Gy.

Symptoms of radiation sickness

Symptoms depend on the main stages, its course and the characteristics of the human body.

Phase I is characterized by such signs of radiation sickness:

slight malaise;
frequent vomiting;
constant feeling of nausea;
drowsiness;
recurrent headaches;
low blood pressure;
increased body temperature;
sudden loss of consciousness;
reddening of the skin, up to the manifestation of a cyanotic hue;
increased heart rate;
finger trembling;
decreased muscle tone;
general malaise.

In phase II (imaginary recovery), the following symptoms of radiation sickness are observed:

gradual disappearance of signs of phase I;
damage to the skin;
hair loss;
violation of gait, hand motility;
muscle aches;
"The effect of shifty eyes";
subsidence of reflexes.

In the III phase are diagnosed:

general weakness of the body;
hemorrhagic syndrome (abundant bleeding);
lack of appetite;
the skin acquires a light color;
ulcers appear;
swelling and increased bleeding of the gums;
frequent urination;
rapid pulse;
damage to the circulatory and hematopoietic systems;
problems with digestion of food, etc.

Symptoms of radiation sickness are non-specific and require careful study by the doctor. The help of a therapist, a hematologist, possibly an oncologist is required.

Diagnostics

To refute or confirm the diagnosis It is necessary to undergo diagnostics, which includes the following types of studies:

Radiation sickness treatment

emergency assistance in case of infection (remove clothing, wash the body, cleanse the stomach, etc.);
taking sedative complexes;
antishock therapy;
body detoxification;
taking complexes that block problems of the stomach and intestines;
isolation of the patient;
taking antibacterial agents;
physical exercise;
taking antibiotics (especially in the first two days);
bone marrow transplant surgery.

The path of treatment of the disease should be chosen by the therapist, hematologist. You may need an additional consultation with an oncologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist, proctologist, etc.

avoid the radio emission zone;
use various types of protection (respirators, bandages, suits);
take drugs of the radioprotective group (an hour before the expected stay);
take vitamins P, B6, C;
use anabolic-type hormonal drugs;
drink plenty of water.

Currently, there is no ideal means of protection against radiation exposure. Therefore, it is necessary to use devices to measure the level of radiation and, if a threat arises, use protective equipment.

Forecast

Contact with people who have been exposed to radiation cannot lead to exposure to radiation. Patients diagnosed with radiation sickness are allowed to contact without protective equipment. This disease is most dangerous for children and adolescents. Ionization affects cells during their growth. It also poses a serious threat to pregnant women, since cells are most vulnerable at the stage of intrauterine development, and exposure can adversely affect the development of the fetus. For those who have been exposed to radiation, the following consequences are dangerous: damage to the circulatory and hematopoietic systems, endocrine, central nervous, digestive, reproductive systems, individual organs. There is also a high risk of developing oncological processes in the body. Assistance in the treatment of this disease should be provided by a professional therapist. Under his control, therapy should also be carried out. Expert advice may be needed.

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Radiation sickness occurs when the human body is affected by radioactive radiation and its range exceeds the doses that the immune system can handle. The course of the disease is accompanied by damage to the endocrine, skin, digestive, hematopoietic, nervous and other systems.

Throughout life, each of us, to one degree or another, is exposed to insignificant doses of ionizing radiation. It comes from and that enter the body with food, drink or breathing, and accumulate in the cells of the body.

The normal radiation background, in which human health does not suffer, is in the range of 1-3 m3v / year. The International Commission on Radiological Protection has established that an excess of 1.5 3 V/year, as well as a single exposure of 0.5 3 V/year, increases the risk of developing radiation sickness.

Causes and features of radiation sickness

Radiation damage occurs in two cases:

short-term, single exposure of high intensity,
prolonged exposure to low doses of radiation.

The first variant of defeat occurs when man-made disasters occur in nuclear energy, during the use or testing of nuclear weapons, and total irradiation in hematology, oncology, and rheumatology.

Medical workers of radiotherapy and diagnostic departments, as well as patients who are often subjected to radionuclide and X-ray studies, are exposed to prolonged exposure to low doses of radiation.

The damaging factors are:

neutrons,
gamma rays,
X-rays.

In some cases, there is a simultaneous effect of several of these factors - mixed exposure. So, if there was an external effect of gamma and neutrons, it will definitely cause radiation sickness. However, alpha and beta particles can cause damage only if they enter the body with food, through breathing, skin or mucous membranes.

Radiation damage is a damaging effect on the body at the cellular, molecular level. Complex biochemical processes take place in the blood, the result of which are products of pathological nitrogen, carbohydrate, fat, water-salt metabolism, provoking radiation toxemia.

First of all, such changes affect actively dividing cells of neurons, brain, intestinal epithelium, lymphoid tissue, skin, endocrine glands. Based on this, toxemic, hemorrhagic, bone marrow, intestinal, cerebral and other syndromes that are part of the pathogenesis (genesis mechanism) of radiation sickness develop.

The insidiousness of radiation injury is that at the time of direct exposure, a person often does not feel anything, be it heat, pain, or something else. Also, the symptoms of the disease do not make themselves felt immediately, there is some latent, hidden period when the disease is actively developing.

There are two types of radiation injury:

acute, when the body is exposed to sharp and strong radiation,
chronic, resulting from prolonged exposure to low doses of radiation.

The chronic form of radiation injury will never turn into an acute one, and vice versa.

According to the specifics of the impact on health, radiation injuries are divided into three groups:

immediate consequences - acute form, burns,
long-term consequences - malignant tumors, leukemia, shortening of the viability time, acceleration of organ aging,
genetic - birth defects, hereditary diseases, deformities and other consequences.

Symptoms of acute radiation injury

Most often, radiation sickness takes place in the bone marrow form and has four stages.

First stage

It is characterized by such signs of radiation exposure:

weakness,
nausea,
vomit,
drowsiness,
headache,
bitterness or dryness in the mouth.

If the radiation dose exceeded 10 Gy, the following symptoms are added to the listed ones:

diarrhea,
fever,
arterial hypotension,
fainting.

Against the background of all this arises:

skin erythema (abnormal redness) with a bluish tint,
reactive leukocytosis (an excess of white blood cells), alternating in a day or two with lymphopenia and leukopenia (a decrease in the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes, respectively).

Second stage

At this stage, clinical well-being is observed, when all the above symptoms disappear, the patient's well-being improves. But when diagnosing, the following is observed:

lability (instability) of the pulse and blood pressure,
lack of coordination
decreased reflexes,
EEG shows slow rhythms
baldness begins about two weeks after irradiation,
leukopenia and other abnormal blood conditions worsen.

If the radiation dose exceeded 10 Gy, then the first stage can immediately be replaced by the third.

Third stage

This is the phase of severe clinical symptoms, when syndromes develop:

hemorrhagic,
intoxication,
anemic,
cutaneous,
infectious,
intestinal,
neurological.

The patient's condition is seriously deteriorating, and the symptoms of the first stage returns and intensifies. Also observed:

hemorrhages in the CNS,
gastrointestinal bleeding,
nosebleeds,
gum bleeding,
ulcerative necrotizing gingivitis,
gastroenteritis,
pharyngitis,
stomatitis,
gingivitis.

The body is easily exposed to infectious complications, such as:

angina,
lung abscess,
pneumonia.

If the radiation dose was very high, radiation dermatitis develops, when primary erythema appears on the skin of the elbows, neck, inguinal, axillary areas, followed by swelling of these skin areas and the formation of blisters. With a favorable outcome, radiation dermatitis disappears with the formation of scars, pigmentation, thickening of the subcutaneous tissue. If dermatitis has affected the vessels, skin necrosis, radiation ulcers occur.

Hair falls out over the entire area of the skin: on the head, face (including eyelashes, eyebrows), pubis, chest, legs. The work of the endocrine glands is inhibited, the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and gonads suffer the most. There is a risk of developing thyroid cancer.

The defeat of the gastrointestinal tract manifests itself in the form of:

colitis,
hepatitis A,
gastritis,
enteritis,
esophagitis.

Against this background, there are:

pain in the abdomen,
nausea,
vomit,
diarrhea,
tenesmus,
jaundice,
blood in stool.

From the side of the nervous system, there are such manifestations:

meningeal symptoms (headaches, photophobia, fever, uncontrollable vomiting),
increasing loss of strength, weakness,
confusion,
increased tendon reflexes
decrease in muscle tone.

Fourth stage

This is the recovery phase, which is characterized by a gradual improvement in well-being and the revival of impaired functions, at least partially. For a long time, the patient has anemia, he feels weak, exhausted.

As complications are:

cirrhosis of the liver,
cataract,
neurosis,
infertility,
leukemia,
malignant tumors.

Symptoms of chronic radiation injury

Light degree

Pathological effects in this case unfold not so quickly. Among them, the leading ones are metabolic disorders, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, cardiovascular and neurological systems.

In a mild degree, chronic radiation injury produces nonspecific and reversible changes in the body. It feels like:

weakness,
headache,
decrease in endurance, performance,
sleep disturbance,
emotional instability.

The permanent features are:

poor appetite,
chronic gastritis,
intestinal indigestion,
biliary dyskinesia,
decreased libido,
impotence in men
in women - a violation of the monthly cycle.

A mild degree of chronic radiation sickness is not accompanied by serious hematological changes, its course is not complicated, and recovery usually occurs without consequences.

Average degree

When the average degree of radiation damage is fixed, the patient suffers from asthenic manifestations and more serious vegetative-vascular disorders. His condition states:

emotional instability,
memory loss,
fainting
nail deformity,
baldness,
dermatitis,
lowering blood pressure,
paroxysmal tachycardia,
multiple ecchymosis (small bruises), petechiae (spots on the skin),
bleeding gums, nose.

Severe degree

For a severe degree of chronic radiation injury, dystrophic changes in organs and tissues are characteristic, and it is not replenished by the regenerative capabilities of the body. Therefore, clinical symptoms progress, infectious complications and intoxication syndrome join them.

Often the course of the disease is accompanied by:

sepsis,
endless headaches,
weakness,
insomnia,
bleeding,
multiple hemorrhages,
loosening, loss of teeth,
total baldness,
ulcerative necrotic lesions of the mucous membranes.

With an extremely severe degree of chronic exposure, pathological changes occur quickly and steadily, leading to an inevitable death.

Diagnosis and treatment of radiation sickness

The following specialists are involved in this process:

therapist,
hematologist,
oncologist.

The diagnosis is based on the study of clinical signs manifested in the patient. What dose of radiation he received is revealed by chromosomal analysis, which is carried out on the first day after exposure. Thus it is possible:

competent formulation of treatment tactics,
analysis of quantitative parameters of radioactive influence,
prediction of the acute form of the disease.

For diagnostics, an established set of studies is used:

laboratory blood tests,
consultations of various specialists,
bone marrow biopsy
assessment of the circulatory system by means of sodium nucleinate.

The patient is assigned the following diagnostic procedures:

CT scan,
electroencephalography,

Dosimetric analyzes of urine, feces, blood are additional methods in diagnosis. Only after all these procedures, the specialist is able to correctly assess the patient's condition and prescribe appropriate treatment.

What should be done first of all when a person has received radiation?

take off his clothes
wash his body in the shower,
rinse nose, mouth, eyes,
rinse the stomach with a special solution,
give an antiemetic.

In the hospital, such a person will be given anti-shock therapy, detoxification, cardiovascular, sedatives, as well as drugs that block gastrointestinal symptoms.

If the degree of exposure is not strong, the patient is relieved of nausea, vomiting and dehydration of the body is prevented by the introduction of saline. In severe radiation injury, surgical detoxification therapy and drugs to prevent collapse are necessary.

Next, it is necessary to carry out the prevention of infections of the external and internal type, for this the patient is placed in an isolation room, where sterile air is supplied, all care items, medical materials and food are also sterile. A planned treatment with antiseptics of the visible mucous membrane and skin is carried out. The patient is given non-absorbable antibiotics to suppress the activity of the intestinal flora, along with this, he also takes antifungal drugs.

With infectious complications, large doses of antibacterial agents administered intravenously are prescribed. Sometimes drugs of a biological type of directed action are used.

In just a couple of days, the patient feels the positive effect of antibiotics. If this is not observed, the medicine is changed to another, while taking into account the analysis of blood, urine, and the results of sputum culture.

When a severe degree of radiation injury is diagnosed and hematopoietic depression and a strong drop in immunity are observed, doctors recommend bone marrow transplantation. However, this is not a panacea, since modern medicine does not have effective measures to prevent rejection of foreign tissues. Many rules are followed for the selection of bone marrow, and the recipient is also subjected to immunosuppression.

Prevention and prognosis for radiation injury

To prevent radiation injury to people who are or often stay in areas of radio emission, the following tips are given:

use personal protective equipment
take radioprotective drugs,
include a hemogram in a regular medical examination.

The prognosis for radiation sickness correlates with the dose of radiation received, as well as the time of its damaging effect. If the patient survived the critical period of 12-14 weeks after radiation injury, he has every chance of recovery. However, even with non-lethal exposure, the victim may develop malignant tumors, hemoblastoses, and his subsequent children may develop genetic anomalies of varying severity. Radiation sickness. Stages and types, methods of its treatment and prognosis.

Associated with the impact on the human body of ionizing radiation.

Causes and symptoms of radiation sickness

According to its occurrence, this disease is divided into acute, resulting from a single, but exceeding the norm, radiation exposure, and chronic, when radiation affects the human body for a long time regularly or periodically.

The acute form of radiation sickness has several stages.

Consider the degree of radiation sickness:

1 degree occurs as a result of exposure in the amount of 1-2 GR (100-200 rad). Appears after 2-3 weeks.
Grade 2 occurs as a result of exposure to radiation of 2-5 Gy (200-500 rad). Appears in 4-5 days.
Grade 3 appears at a radiation dose of 5-10 GR (500-1000 rad). It appears 10-12 hours after exposure.
Grade 4 occurs at a radiation dose of more than 10 Gy (1000 rad), manifests itself literally 30 minutes after exposure. This dose of radiation is absolutely lethal.

Radiation doses up to 1 Gy (100 rad) are considered mild and cause conditions that are called pre-illness in medical practice.

When exposed to more than 10 Gy, the first symptoms appear after a couple of hours. There is reddening of the skin in places where there was the strongest exposure. There is nausea and vomiting.

At high doses of radiation, there may be disorientation, and. Cells in the gastrointestinal tract die.

Over time, the symptoms progress - atrophy of mucosal cells and bacterial infections occur. Cells that have absorbed nutrients are destroyed. This often results in bleeding.

A dose of radiation over 10 Gy is lethal to humans. Death usually occurs within 2 weeks.

In the event of infectious complications, large doses of antibacterial drugs are used. Severe radiation sickness sometimes requires a bone graft. But this method does not always help, as tissue incompatibility is often observed.

Upon contact with contaminated objects, shielding of all parts of the body is required. It is mandatory to take drugs that can reduce the level of sensitivity to radioactive radiation.

One of the most effective methods of prevention is the use of radioprotectors. These elements are protective connections, but may cause others.

Radiation sickness is a disease that occurs due to the effect of ionizing radiation on the human body. The manifestation of symptoms of the disease is determined by the size of the dose of radiation received by a person, its types, the duration of radioactive exposure, as well as the dose distribution on the human body.

In this article, we will consider the degrees of radiation sickness.

Causes of pathology

Radiation sickness occurs due to the influence of radioactive substances that are in the air, in food, in water, as well as due to various types of radiation. Penetrating into the body while inhaling air, eating or by absorption through the eyes and skin, during drug therapy through inhalation or injection. Radioactive substances can be the beginning of the development of radiation sickness. Many people wonder how many degrees radiation sickness has.

Symptoms of radiation sickness

Radiation sickness is characterized by some symptoms, depending on its degree, formation and development. They appear in the form of a series of main phases.

The first phase is the onset of nausea, vomiting, a feeling of dryness and bitterness in the mouth may appear. The patient complains that he quickly gets tired, drowsiness and headache are noted. Also, this phase is characterized by low blood pressure, in some cases, fever, loss of consciousness and diarrhea are possible.

The symptoms listed above occur only when receiving a dose that does not exceed 10 Gy. Irradiation passing such a threshold manifests itself in the form of reddening of the skin with a bluish tinge in those parts of the body that have suffered the most. The degrees of radiation sickness are interrelated.

In addition, the first phase of the disease is characterized by such symptoms as a manifestation of a decrease in muscle tone of a uniform nature, changes in pulse rate, narrowing of tendon reflexes and trembling of the fingers.

What's next?

After radiation has been received, somewhere on the third or fourth day, the primary symptoms disappear. After this, the second phase of the disease appears, which has a latent character. It lasts from fourteen days to a month. An improvement in the condition is noted, any deviations can be seen when probing the pulse and readings of blood pressure. During this phase, coordination during movement is disturbed, eyeballs tremble involuntarily, reflexes decrease, and there may also be other defects in the neurological system. It is important for everyone to know the degree of radiation sickness.

After twelve days have passed, and at a radiation dose of more than 3 Gy, patients develop progressive baldness and other symptoms of skin lesions. After the completion of the second phase, only single polychromatophilic normoblasts and mature neutrophils can be detected in the bone marrow.

If the dose exceeds 10 Gy, then radiation sickness immediately passes from the first phase to the third, characterized by symptoms that are clearly expressed. The clinical picture reflects the development of a hemorrhagic syndrome and various infections, damage to the blood system. Lethargy increases, consciousness darkens, muscle tone decreases and cerebral edema expands.

What are the forms of radiation sickness?

This disease occurs as a result of exposure to the human body of ionizing radiation, which has a range of 1 to 10 Gy or more. It is possible to classify this pathology as occurring in an acute or chronic form. The development of the chronic form occurs during periodic or long-term continuous exposure to the body of doses ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 Gy during the day and a total dose of more than 1 Gy.

Degrees of radiation sickness

Radiation sickness of the acute form is divided into four (first) according to severity, it is one whose exposure is 1-2 Gy, manifests itself in two to three weeks. Moderate severity (second degree) - exposure, having a dose of 2 to 5 Gy, which manifests itself after ten to twelve hours. Extremely severe (fourth degree) includes a dose of more than 10 Gy, it manifests itself already thirty minutes after exposure.

Negative transformations in the human body after irradiation are determined by the total dose received by it. A dose of up to 1 Gy brings relatively mild consequences to the patient and is regarded as a disease in a preclinical form. If the radiation dose is higher than 1 Gy, then there is a threat of developing an intestinal or bone marrow form of the disease, which can be manifested with varying degrees of severity. If there was an irradiation with a dosage of more than 10 Gy, then, as a rule, everything will end in death.

What are the consequences?

The consequences of a single or constant small exposure after many months or years may be revealed later as stochastic and somatic effects. Long-term effects are also classified, as follows: defects in the immune and reproductive systems, genetic type deviations and a teratogenic effect. We examined the degrees of radiation sickness. But how to identify them?

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis and therapy of radiation sickness is carried out by such doctors as an oncologist, internist and hematologist. It is based on the identification of symptoms of a clinical type that appear in a person after exposure. The dose received by him is revealed thanks to dosimetric data, as well as using chromosomal analysis during the first two days after exposure to radiation. This method makes it possible to choose the right treatment tactics to identify quantitative indicators of radioactive effects on tissues and make a prognosis of the disease in an acute form.

Therapy depends on the severity of radiation sickness.

Features of the treatment of radiation sickness

If a person has received radiation, then it must be treated in the following way: remove all available clothes, rather wash in the shower, thoroughly rinse the mouth, eyes, nose, wash the stomach and give him an antiemetic drug to drink. When treating this disease, it is imperative to take anti-shock measures, give a person detoxification, sedative and cardiovascular drugs. The patient should also use those drugs that block the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract.

For the treatment of an acute degree of radiation sickness, the use of drugs that prevent vomiting and stop nausea is required. If vomiting is uncontrollable, it is necessary to use atropine and chlorpromazine. If the patient is dehydrated, saline should be administered. In case of a severe degree of the disease, detoxification treatment is necessary in the first three days after the radiation received. To prevent collapse, experts prescribe cardiamin, contrical, mezaton and trasylol.

Different types of insulators are used to prevent external and internal infections in first-degree radiation sickness. They supply sterile air, care items, food and medical materials are also sterile. The integument of the skin and visible mucous membranes should be treated with an antiseptic. To suppress the activity of the intestinal flora, non-absorbable antibiotics (ristomycin, neomycin, gentamicin) are used, accompanied by the simultaneous use of nystatin. But it is important to determine what degree of radiation sickness a person has.

Complications of an infectious nature are eliminated through the use of antibacterial drugs in large doses (kanamycin, methicillin, tseporin) administered intravenously. To enhance the fight against bacteria, you can use biological preparations that have a directed effect (hyperimmune, antipseudomonal, antistaphylococcal plasma). Most often, the action of antibiotics begins within two days, in the absence of a positive result, the drug must be changed and another one prescribed, taking into account bacteriological cultures of blood, urine, sputum, etc.

With a severe degree

If a patient has severe radiation sickness with a diagnosis of suppression of immunological reactivity of a deep nature, as well as hematopoietic depression, experts recommend a bone marrow transplant. This method has limited possibilities, since there are no effective measures to help overcome tissue incompatibility reactions. Donor bone marrow is selected on the basis of a large number of factors, the principles that are established for allomyelotransplantation must be followed. It is necessary to pre-treat the recipient with immunosuppression.

We found out how many degrees radiation sickness has.

Preventive actions

Currently, preventive actions in order to avoid radiation sickness are based on shielding the partial nature of some parts of the human body, the use of special preparations, the effect of which helps to reduce the sensitivity of the patient's body to sources of radioactive radiation, as a result of which the impact of various radiochemical reactions slows down quite a lot. In addition, people who are at risk of being affected by this disease are advised to take vitamins C, P, B6 and anabolic hormonal drugs. Such preventive measures reduce the sensitivity of the human body to the most effective and widely used prevention of acute radiation sickness is the use of radioprotectors, which act as protective compounds of chemical origin.

Upon contact with contaminated objects, screening of all parts of the body is necessary. In addition, it is imperative to take drugs that can reduce the body's sensitivity to radioactive radiation.

Radiation in a person's home

Very rarely people think about it, but in any apartment or house there is a source of radiation. In especially large quantities, they are found in old rooms in which old things and objects are stored.

For example, old Soviet-era watches can act as a source of radiation. In the state at that time, in the process of making watches and other items, luminous mass based on radium-226 was often used. Although outwardly it was very beautiful, because the arrows could glow in the dark, but at the same time they emitted radiation.

The same applies to wristwatches that were made in the sixties. Most of these were often covered with luminous mass, and the proportion of radiation was determined depending on the strength of their glow.

It can also be radioactive dishes. In the Soviet period, light green glassware was produced. During its manufacture, uranium dioxide was used. In addition, buttons were also made from this element. Another source of radiation can be furniture made from chipboard, as well as other building materials.

Radiation surrounds a person everywhere, and it is simply impossible to isolate oneself completely. However, small doses are not dangerous, while large doses are quite rare.

We examined in the article how many degrees radiation sickness has.

Radiation sickness is a pathological condition of a person, which is caused by a systematic effect on the body of radioactive irradiation. The clinical picture appears if the radiation dose exceeds 100 rad (1 Gy). If the dose is less than indicated, then we can talk about the asymptomatic course of radiation sickness.

Etiology

Etiological factors that can provoke the development of radiation sickness are the following:

short, but intense impact on the body of radiation waves;
systematic exposure of a person to X-ray waves;
ingestion of radioactive compounds.

Irradiation is possible even in the case of a slight contact with the skin of radioactive rays. In this case, signs of the disease appear on the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. If at this stage the necessary medical care is not provided and treatment is not started, the disease can give serious complications.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of radiation sickness is quite simple. Radiation that penetrates human tissue is the cause of the formation of an oxidative reaction. Against the background of this process, the antioxidant defense system is significantly weakened and cannot fully perform its functions. As a result, the affected cells die. Such a mechanism for the development of the disease leads to disruption of the normal functioning of such systems:

central nervous system;
cardiovascular;
endocrine;
hematopoietic.

The higher the dose of radiation received by a person, the faster the clinical picture will develop. In addition, it is worth noting that if a person is at this time near the explosion or at its epicenter, the body will be additionally affected:

exposure to mechanical and light energy;
heat.

Therefore, in addition to violations in the functioning of systems, chemical burns are possible.

The degree of development of the disease and forms

There are two forms of radiation sickness - chronic and acute. Chronic radiation sickness may show no signs at all until a certain point. Acute radiation sickness has a well-defined clinical picture.

In modern medicine, there are four degrees of radiation sickness:

mild (irradiation up to 2 Gy);
medium (from 2 to 4 Gy);
heavy (from 4 to 6 Gy);
very heavy (more than 6 Gy).

The last two stages of the disease have already irreversible processes. Not an exception - a lethal outcome.

General symptoms

Chronic radiation sickness is asymptomatic in the initial stages. The clinical picture appears somewhat later.

Acute radiation sickness manifests itself in the form of such symptoms:

severe headache, sometimes accompanied by dizziness;
nausea and vomiting;
nose bleed;
general malaise, weakness;
a blood test shows an increased content of and;
in some places the skin turns red and begins to itch.

The period of manifestation of such symptoms lasts no more than one week. As the disease develops, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:

low body temperature;
Strong headache;
cramps in the lower extremities;
loss of appetite, nausea;
unstable blood pressure.

With the last degree of development of acute radiation sickness, the general condition of the patient worsens significantly, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:

hair loss, thinning of the skin and nail plates;
disruption of the genitourinary system (women have menstrual irregularities, men have problems with potency);
the formation of ulcers on the mucous membranes of the mouth, intestines and stomach;
fever, for no apparent reason;
severely weakened immunity.

The last period of development of the acute form of the disease begins approximately 4 weeks after exposure. Restoring the functionality of the systems is possible if the correct treatment is started. The most difficult thing is to restore the functioning of the genitourinary system.

It is noteworthy that in the second stage of the development of acute radiation sickness, the symptoms may partially disappear, the patient's condition may improve significantly. But this does not say anything about the recovery of a person.

After radiation sickness, the likelihood of developing complications is high. Most often this is due to the work of the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system.

Classification of the disease

In modern medicine, types of radiation sickness are distinguished according to the time and nature of localization.

According to the time of irradiation, the following forms are distinguished:

single;
prolonged;
chronic.

According to the nature of localization:

local or general form;
uniform or uneven.

As medical practice shows, the acute stage of the development of the disease is accompanied by lesions in all areas of the skin and at all levels - tissue, molecular, organ. Almost always there is swelling of the brain. If the patient is not given the correct treatment, then a lethal outcome is not ruled out.

Diagnostics

If you have the above symptoms, you should immediately contact an oncologist or therapist. After a personal examination and clarification of symptoms, a general history, laboratory and instrumental methods of research are carried out.

The laboratory research program includes the following:

blood clotting testing.

As for instrumental research methods, the standard program includes such analyzes:

puncture biopsy of the bone marrow;
electroencephalography.

Only on the basis of all the tests passed, it is possible to accurately diagnose, identify the degree of development of the disease and prescribe the correct course of treatment.

It should be noted that the diagnostic program can be supplemented by other research methods. It all depends on the degree of development of radiation sickness and what systems of the human body are involved in the pathological process.

Treatment

Radiation sickness of a person at an early stage is treated quite well. But it should be understood that such an effect of radiation on the human body does not pass without a trace. After completing the course of treatment, the patient needs a long period of rehabilitation.

Drug treatment involves taking such drugs:

antihistamines;
antibiotics;
for general strengthening of the immune system;
vitamin complexes.

If the patient is diagnosed with the third stage of the disease, then in addition to the above drugs, antihemorrhagic agents are prescribed. Blood transfusion is also mandatory.

In addition, at any stage of the development of the disease, physiotherapy procedures are used - oxygen masks and exercise therapy. It is worth noting that during this period it is very important for the patient to eat right. Proper treatment of radiation sickness gives positive results and significantly reduces the risk of serious diseases.

Nutrition for radiation sickness

During the period of treatment and medication, the patient should eat right:

consume the optimal amount of liquid - at least 2 liters per day (including juices and tea);
do not drink while eating;
steamed food is preferred;
the consumption of fatty, spicy, salty foods is minimized.

You need to eat in small portions, but quite often - at least 5 times a day. Smoking and alcohol consumption are naturally excluded.

Possible Complications

Depending on the nature of the development of the disease and the general health of the patient, radiation sickness can cause complications. The most common side effects of radiation sickness are:

ophthalmic diseases;
malignant tumors that can cause severe cancer;
complete baldness of the human skin;
disorders in hematopoiesis.

Such complications can be avoided at least partially if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage and the correct treatment is started. Therefore, at the first symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help.

Prevention

Prevention of radiation sickness is especially important for those people who live in a zone of high radiation. But such events are also important for residents of other countries.

For people who are at risk, prevention is as follows:

taking vitamins of group B6, P, C;
hormonal anabolic drugs;
drugs to strengthen the immune system.

But you need to consume such drugs strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

General prevention includes taking radioprotectors, vitamins and general strengthening of immunity. Such measures minimize the risk of developing a pathological process. If a person has the above signs of illness, you should immediately seek medical help. Procrastination or self-medication can not only accelerate the development of the disease, but also cause the development of serious complications.

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