Symptoms, signs and methods of treatment of radiation sickness. Radiation sickness: signs, symptoms and consequences

Each disease is dangerous and insidious in its own way. Unpleasant symptoms, along with poor health, make us think that the disease has already begun. The phenomenon of radiation sickness is prominent representative similar ailments. Many have heard about the existence of radiation pathologies and the seriousness of such consequences for humans.

The event in Chernobyl, known throughout the world, in the shortest possible time conveyed to people information about the presence of a serious danger that comes from radioactive radiation. What exactly lies in this kind of danger, we will find out in this article. How to recognize the signs of radiation sickness?

How does illness occur?

So, radiation sickness is a reaction on the part of the human body to the effects of life-threatening radioactive radiation. Under the influence of such unfavorable factor processes that are unnatural for normal functioning are launched in cells, which entail certain failures in many structures of vital activity. This disease is extremely life-threatening, as it is an irreversible process, the destructive effect of which can only be stopped a little. Signs of radiation sickness are important to identify in a timely manner.

Influence of radioactive radiation

Radioactive radiation affects the body as an aggressive factor that causes accompanying illnesses. Its danger directly depends on the time and the total area of radiation. In addition, the way radiation enters the body also affects. Not less than important role plays the immune resistance of the human body.

Given the degree of damage, the basic zones are distinguished, most often undergoing pathological changes as a result of radiation sickness:

Digestive system.
Nervous system.
Spinal cord.
Circulatory system.

The consequences of radiation pathology in these parts of the body lead to serious dysfunctions that occur as a single complication or may be combined with several. A similar combination is observed with lesions of the third degree. Such consequences can acquire very serious forms up to death.

Classification of radiation sickness

Depending on the period of exposure to radiation on the body, radiation sickness is divided into the following types:

Sharp shape.
chronic form.

Acute radiation sickness is considered a consequence of a short exposure to radiation, which is more than 1 gram. Such a dose is a critical form that causes rapid changes in the human body, which mainly lead to serious complications, and sometimes to the death of the patient.

Signs of radiation sickness vary in degree.

Chronic form

Chronic radiation pathology can occur as a result of prolonged contact with a radiation source, the radiation from which is equal to the limit of up to 1 g. Often, patients with chronic radiation sickness are workers at nuclear power plants who have to come into contact with radiation. Depending on the degree of penetration of radiation, this disease is classified into the following types:

An internal form that occurs as a consequence of the ingestion of radioactive elements. In this case, radiation enters through the respiratory or digestive system. This factor is decisive in the treatment, since it is precisely those organs through which the irradiation has passed that are affected first of all.
The external form in which radioactive exposure occurs through skin person.

Thus, radiation sickness, the signs of which have already made themselves felt, may have different forms, it is classified depending on the severity of the disease.

Radiation sickness: the degree of damage to the body

Everything possible consequences radiation sickness, as a rule, lead to serious dysfunctions that can manifest themselves in the form of single complications or be combined with several at once. In total, there are three degrees of radiation exposure:

First degree. This stage of damage is characterized by a minimally dangerous effect of radiation on a person. Symptoms of the disease at this stage are not even always manifested. At the same time, full diagnostics shows only initial pathological changes in the functioning of vital systems. This stage is successfully corrected by timely medical treatment. What are the signs of radiation sickness after radiation therapy?
Second degree. This degree of the disease has more pronounced manifestations in comparison with the previous form. The consequences of such radioactive exposure can also be quite successfully treated. But against its background, the risk of the appearance of serious problems health in the future. Unfortunately, quite often these problems become cancerous diseases.
Third degree. This form is a serious threat to human life. It is characterized by numerous changes in normal functioning vital systems of the body, which can often lead to his death. Treatment of such conditions is mainly aimed at eliminating the consequences of radioactive exposure. It should be noted that the consequences of third-degree radiation exposure are almost irreversible. A person can only partially improve his health, but, unfortunately, cases of complete disability are not uncommon.

Signs of radiation sickness

Radiation sickness, the treatment of which has not yet begun, has its own symptoms, which manifest themselves depending on the degree of damage to the body by radiation. So, what is the first sign of radiation sickness? More on this later.

The main symptoms are:

Against the background of the first degree of the disease, a person develops a feeling of nausea, vomiting, dryness or bitterness in the mouth. The development of tachycardia and tremor is not excluded. All these symptoms are temporary and soon, as a rule, disappear after rehabilitation therapy, as well as the elimination of the source of radiation. We can say that this is the first sign of radiation sickness.
As part of the second-degree radiation damage, a violation in the coordination of movements is often noted along with the presence of skin rashes over the area of the whole body. Also, a person may begin to experience periodic spasms of the eyes, and, in addition, all symptoms of the first degree appear. In the event that the required therapy is not carried out in a timely manner, then the second degree may develop into the next more severe form. Patients may also develop baldness. The condition may be accompanied by a decrease in reflex reactions. At this stage, the patient's blood pressure drops. Signs of radiation sickness differ markedly in degrees.
Symptoms of the third degree of exposure mainly depend on which organs were affected due to radioactive interference. In such a state, the patient has all the above symptoms, and in addition, those that are characteristic of concomitant pathology. At this phase of the disease, the state of immunity deteriorates noticeably in patients, and, in addition, hemorrhagic syndrome occurs, which is accompanied by heavy bleeding. At this stage, complete intoxication of the body occurs. There is an exacerbation of the risk of various infectious diseases.

The fourth degree - against the background of all this, the patient's temperature rises and blood pressure drops. There are signs of acute radiation sickness. Also, in patients, the pulse quickens and the person begins to overcome weakness. It is not excluded the occurrence of edema in the gum area along with the appearance of necrotic ulcers in the digestive system.

These are the main signs of radiation sickness of 1-4 degrees.

Diagnosis of radiation sickness

Diagnosis of radiation pathology is carried out through various medical appointments and methods, which directly depends on the stage at which this process takes place. dangerous disease. First of all, in such cases it is necessary to collect a detailed anamnesis. The doctor listens to all complaints of the patient. After that in without fail The following blood tests are given:

General clinical analysis.
Blood for biochemistry.
Coagulogram.

In addition, in the diagnostics, research is carried out bone marrow the patient along with his internal organs. This diagnosis is made by ultrasound. In addition, endoscopy and radiography are performed. It is thanks to the blood count that it is possible to determine the severity of the disease. Later, according to a blood test, one can also observe the dynamism of the phase changes of the disease.

Preventive measures

It is important to determine the signs of radiation sickness of the 1st degree in time. But ideally, it is better not to allow the development of the disease at all.

In order to prevent radiation sickness requires constant use various options protection in the event that a person is directly in the zone of radio emission. Also, as part of preventive measures, drugs that are radioprotectors are used, which can significantly reduce the radiosensitivity of the human body. In addition, radioprotectors slow down the course of various radiochemical reactions. It should be noted that the use similar drugs occurs half an hour before contact with radiation. Directly protective properties These drugs work for five hours.

And it is important to remember that the signs of death from acute radiation sickness are indomitable vomiting, bloody diarrhea, unconsciousness, general convulsions, then death.

Radiation sickness treatment

Unfortunately, no one is immune from radiation sickness. This disease is diagnosed in medical practice not only in adults, but also in young children. The reasons for its occurrence are always very different, ranging from conventional products food taken from the Chernobyl zone, ending with radiation exposure in industrial environment. Timely diagnosis of the disease often saves the lives of many people, and, on the contrary, delaying treatment often ends in death. As a rule, the main methods of treatment of radiation pathology are directed to the following methods:

The complete picture of the lesion is determined internal organs. It is on the basis of such an examination that they appoint complex therapy, which is aimed at restoring, for example, the organs of the digestive, hematopoietic or nervous system. Much, as already noted, depends on when radiation sickness was recorded, its signs and periods.
Stage of treatment. Therapy of radiation sickness must necessarily be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor and must be aimed at removing all kinds of radioactive substances from the patient's body. Any appointed medical preparations should be taken by the patient on time and strictly according to the prescription, because this disease only gets worse without proper treatment. That is, than longer man does not treat radiation sickness, the higher the likelihood of developing even more serious health consequences.

Stimulation and increase of immunity. No matter how severe the radiation exposure, the timing of the patient's further recovery directly depends on how quickly his immunity is able to restore its former health. Therefore, stimulation of the immune system is considered extremely milestone treatment aimed at fast recovery. For these purposes, immunostimulants are used in medical practice, and, in addition, they use vitamin diet which is aimed at strengthening the immune system.
Prevention of the disease implies the subsequent complete exclusion from the patient's life of any factors that can have a radioactive effect on his body. As part of the preventive action, one can name a change of place of work along with the observance of the deadlines for performing X-ray examinations, which should be carried out no more than once a year. It is important to note that x-rays should completely rule out women in cases of pregnancy.

Alternative methods of treatment of radiation pathology

Folk remedies for the treatment of radiation pathologies are often used as part of a comprehensive disposal of the disease, along with the main drug therapy. In fact, there are quite a lot of ways to treat radiation sickness, but listing all modern techniques and methods, and, in addition, naming specific drugs is inappropriate due to the fact that prescribing rehabilitation treatment in should only the attending physician.

So, as already noted, folk remedies to eliminate the signs of the course of acute radiation sickness are often used as part of complex treatment along with the main drug therapy. Alternative therapy is directed to the removal of radionuclides from the body, in addition, the immune system is stimulated. For all these purposes, the folk sphere of medicine has a whole arsenal excellent funds, which are able to have a mild effect on the entire body, allowing the use similar methods for a long time. Alternative treatment is quite effective and is considered great way for prevention.

The most proven means

In fact, there are a lot of all kinds of recipes, consider some of the most proven and effective ones:

Tincture prepared on the basis of needles. With the help of this tincture, it is possible to neutralize the radioactive influence, that is, to remove radionuclides from the human body. This infusion is prepared on the basis of half a liter boiled water. Five tablespoons of frayed pine needles are also taken. It is not necessary to bring the tincture to a boil. It is required to insist within one day. The prepared medicine is required to be drunk during the day in full. The procedure is repeated a day later for one month.
Sea buckthorn oil. healing oil from sea buckthorn is perfect not only for preventive measures but also for treatment. This product has a pronounced anti-radiation effect. The essence of the application is as follows: take one teaspoon of sea buckthorn oil three times a day for exactly one month.

The article deals with radiation sickness, signs, symptoms, consequences are presented.

Radiation sickness- is damage to all cells of the body, which is caused by a high dose of radiation received in a short period of time.

The amount of radiation absorbed by the body (absorbed dose) determines the severity of radiation sickness.

Radiation sickness begins only after exposure to very powerful sources, which is possible in case of accidents at nuclear facilities, in laboratories, in radioactive waste dumps.

Ordinary x-ray CT scan cannot cause radiation sickness.

Causes of radiation sickness

Most likely sources radiation leading to radiation sickness:

1. Accident or terrorist act at a nuclear facility - nuclear power plants, nuclear power plants of ships and submarines.

2. Accidents at small nuclear installations, which are available in many research laboratories.

3. The explosion of a so-called "dirty" bomb containing a conventional explosive charge and radioactive materials that are sprayed into the atmosphere during the explosion.

4. Explosion of "classic" nuclear bomb, similar to those that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Radiation sickness occurs due to the fact that high-energy radiation destabilizes molecules in living cells, their elements, DNA. This leads to massive cell death, disruption of their reproduction and the emergence of multiple mutations.

The cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, as well as hematopoietic cells of the bone marrow, are most susceptible to the action of radiation.

Symptoms of radiation sickness

The dose of radiation absorbed by the body is measured in units called gray (Gy or Gy). The severity of manifestations of radiation sickness strongly depends on the absorbed dose of radiation. Depending on the dose, light (1-2Gy), moderate (2-6Gy), severe (6-8Gy) and very severe (more than 8Gy) degrees of radiation sickness are distinguished.

Diagnostic procedures that are used in the hospital (X-ray, CT scan) can give the patient a very small dose radiation - usually less than 0.1 Gy. Signs of radiation sickness usually appear when the body has received a radiation dose of at least 1 Gy. Doses above 6 Gy from whole body irradiation usually result in the death of the patient within 2-15 days.

The first symptoms may appear within a couple of hours after exposure. Most often, radiation sickness begins with nausea and vomiting, as well as redness of the skin in the place where the radiation was especially strong. With a sufficiently large absorbed dose, diarrhea, fever, headache, disorientation, etc. can be observed.

After the first period of the disease, a period of imaginary well-being begins - asymptomatic. After that, new, more serious symptoms- weakness, fatigue, hair loss, hematemesis and stools, drop in blood counts, infections, low blood pressure, etc.

With a very severe degree of exposure (more than 8 Gy), these symptoms develop very quickly, and the patient dies within a few days.

What should be done in case of danger?

Incidents at nuclear facilities in the majority democratic countries, no doubt, will be widely covered in the media. If such an accident happened nearby, you need to turn on all available sources of information and listen to the news. Do not go outside, close all windows. Follow the directions of local authorities and stay calm. If you have been exposed to radiation, then immediately go to the hospital, without waiting for the onset of symptoms of the disease.

Diagnosis of radiation sickness

Upon admission of a patient with radiation injury medical staff will try to find out the main thing - the dose that the patient received. The absorbed dose largely determines further measures.

Information important for determining absorbed dose:

1. Radiation source: data on the nature of the source, distance to it, exposure time, and others.

2. Type of radiation (alpha, x-ray, gamma). The nature of the disease may depend on the specific type of radiation to which the victim has been exposed. This information determines the next steps.

3. Symptoms of the disease: the timing of the onset of vomiting and other symptoms indicates the extent of the disease. In severe radiation sickness, the symptoms are more severe and develop more quickly.

4. Blood tests. Frequent tests, which are carried out for several days, will help to see the rate of fall in the level of leukocytes and other changes in the blood.

5. Dosimeter data. This device measures the absorbed dose of radiation. If the victim had an individual dosimeter with him at the time of the accident, this would facilitate diagnosis.

Radiation sickness treatment

Treatment for radiation sickness focuses on preventing further radiation injury, repairing organ damage, and controlling symptoms such as pain and vomiting.

Decontamination.

This is the first phase of treatment for radiation sickness, which consists in removing radioactive particles from the surface of the body. Removing clothes and shoes from the victim can remove up to 90% of the radioactive particles. The patient should then be thoroughly washed with soap to cleanse the skin.

Treatment of bone marrow damage.

To mitigate the effects of radiation sickness, modern medicine uses a protein called granulocyte colony stimulating factor. This highly active protein stimulates the growth of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Preparations filgrastim and pegfilgrastim, created on the basis of this protein, increase the level of leukocytes in the patient's blood. This helps fight infections and increases the chances of survival.

When the bone marrow is damaged, a transfusion of erythrocyte and platelet mass is also used - blood elements that the diseased bone marrow cannot produce.

Removal of radioactive particles from the body.

Some treatments are aimed at removing radionuclides from the body. This will help prevent long-term consequences.

Preparations for the removal of radioactive particles include:

1. Potassium iodide. It is a compound of non-radioactive iodine. Iodine - an essential substance for work thyroid gland, so the thyroid gland becomes the "destination" of any iodine that enters the body. Treatment with potassium iodide saturates thyroid gland iodine, so it does not absorb radioactive iodine from the environment.
2. Prussian blue, or Prussian blue. This dye has remarkable property bind radioactive cesium and thallium. These substances are then excreted in the feces.
3. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). This substance binds many radioactive metals - americium, plutonium, curium. The radioactive elements are then excreted in the urine, reducing the dose of radiation received.

Supportive care.

With radiation sickness, supportive treatment is aimed at such conditions:

1. Bacterial infections.
2. Fever and headache.
3. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
4. Dehydration, etc.

Complications of radiation sickness

Radiation sickness causes long-term health problems for survivors acute stage illness. Radiation sickness significantly increases the risk oncological diseases in future.

Victims of nuclear disasters experience and psychological problems that are associated with experienced fear, the loss of friends and loved ones.

Such people have to live all their lives with the risk of becoming a victim of cancer at any time, as well as with the need to overcome numerous diseases every day.

Konstantin Mokanov

Such a disease of the body as radiation sickness can occur in people as a result of exposure to a large number of ionizing rays, in which cell structures are damaged in various forms. Today similar diseases are rare because they can develop after a single dose high dose irradiation. Chronic illness can occur as a result of constant exposure to a small amount of ray fluxes. With such exposure, all body systems and internal organs are affected. For this reason, the clinical picture of such an ailment can always differ.

Radiation sickness

This disease develops after exposure to high radioactive radiation from 1 to 10 Gy and above. There are situations when exposure is recorded at received doses of 0.1 to 1 Gy. In such a situation, the body is in the preclinical stage. Radiation sickness can occur in two forms:

As a result of the overall relatively uniform exposure to radioactive radiation.
After receiving a localized dose of radiation to a specific part of the body or internal organ.

There is also the possibility of a combination and manifestation of a transitional form of the disease in question.

Usually, the acute or chronic form manifests itself depending on the received radiation load. Features of the mechanism of the transition of the disease to acute or chronic form completely excludes the change of state from one to another. It is known that the acute form always differs from the chronic form in the rate of receiving a dose of radiation in the amount of 1 Gy.

A certain dosage of the received irradiation causes clinical syndrome any form. A variety of radiation can also have its own characteristics, since the nature of the damaging effect on the body can vary significantly. Radiation is characterized by increased density ionization and low penetrating power, therefore, the destructive effect of such radiation sources has certain volume limits.

Beta radiation with a low penetrating effect causes damage to tissues precisely at the points of contact with the radiation source. U-radiation contributes to penetrating lesions of the body's cell structure in the distribution area. Neutron radiation can be inhomogeneous in terms of impact on the structure of cells, since the penetrating power can also differ.

If you receive a dose of radiation of 50-100 Gy, the nervous system will be damaged. This variant of the development of the disease will lead to death in 4-8 days after irradiation.

If you gain radiation of 10-50 Gy, radiation sickness will manifest itself in the form of lesions of the digestive system, resulting in rejection of the intestinal mucosa. Fatal outcome in this situation occurs in 2 weeks.

Under the influence of a lower dose from 1 to 10 Gy, the symptoms characteristic of the acute form normally appear, the main symptom of which is considered to be the hematological syndrome. This condition is accompanied by bleeding and various infectious diseases.

Read more about the causes and degrees of radiation sickness in this article.

Acute form, its symptoms and signs

Most often, radiation sickness develops in the bone marrow form in several stages.

Consider the main symptoms characteristic of the first stage:

General weakness;
Vomit;
Migraine;
Drowsiness;
Feeling of bitterness and dryness in oral cavity.

When the radiation dosage is more than 10 Gy, the above symptoms may be accompanied by the following:

Diarrhea;
arterial hypotension;
Fever;
Fainting state.

Against this background, it may appear:

Unnatural redness of the skin.
Leukocytosis, turning into lymphopenia or leukopenia.

At the second stage, the overall clinical picture improves, however, during the diagnosis, the following features can be observed:

Instability of heartbeat and indicators blood pressure;
Poor coordination of movements;
Deterioration of reflexes;
The EEG shows slow rhythms;
Baldness occurs 2 weeks after receiving a dose of radiation;
Leukopenia and other unnatural blood conditions may worsen.

In a situation where the dose of received radiation is 10 Gy, the first stage can immediately develop into the third.

The patient's condition in the third stage is significantly aggravated. In this case, the symptoms of the first stage can significantly increase. In addition to everything, you can observe the following processes:

Bleeding in the CNS;
Damage to the lining of organs in the gastrointestinal tract;
nosebleed;
Damage to the oral mucosa;
skin necrosis;
Gastroenteritis;
Stomatitis and pharyngitis may also develop.

The body lacks protection against infections, so it may occur:

Angina;
Pneumonia;
Abscess.

Dermatitis can develop in a situation where the dose of radiation received is very high.

Symptoms of the chronic form

If the chronic form occurs, all symptoms may appear a little more slowly. The main ones include:

neurological;
Complications in the work of the endocrine system;
Metabolic disorders;
Problems with the digestive system;
hematological disorders.

At mild degree reversible changes appear in the body:

General weakness;
Deterioration in performance;
Migraine;
sleep problems;
Poor mental state;
Appetite worsens all the time;
Dyspeptic syndrome develops;
Gastritis with impaired secretion.

Violation of the endocrine system is manifested in this way:

Libido worsens;
Men have impotence;
In women, it manifests itself as untimely menstruation.

Hematological anomalies are unstable and do not have a definite severity.

The chronic form in a mild degree can proceed favorably and is amenable to complete cure without any future consequences.

The average degree is characterized by vegetative-vascular anomalies and various asthenic formations.

Doctors also note:

dizziness;
emotional instability;
memory impairment;
Periodic loss of consciousness.

In addition to this, the following trophic disorders are observed:

Rotting nails;
Dermatitis;
Alopecia.

Sustained hypotension and tachycardia also develop.

Radiation sickness treatment

After irradiation, it is necessary to provide a person with the following assistance:

Take off his clothes completely;
Wash in the shower as soon as possible;
Conduct an examination of the oral cavity, nose and mucous membranes of the eyes;
Next, you need to perform a gastric lavage procedure and give the patient an antiemetic medicine.

During treatment, it is necessary to carry out the procedure antishock therapy, give the patient medication:

Eliminating problems in the work of the cardiovascular system;
Contributing to the detoxification of the body;
Sedative drugs.

The patient needs to take a medication that blocks damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

To cope with the first phase of radiation sickness, you need to use antiemetics. Aminazine and atropine are recommended for use when vomiting cannot be stopped. Dropper with saline should be given to the patient if he is dehydrated.

If the patient has a severe degree, it is imperative to detoxify within the first three days after receiving a dose of radiation.

All kinds of isolators are used to prevent the development of infections. In specially equipped rooms is served:

Fresh air;
Necessary medicines and devices;
Patient care products.

Be sure to treat visible mucous membranes with antiseptics. The work of the intestinal microflora is blocked by antibiotics with the addition of nystatin.

With the help of antibacterial agents, it is possible to cope with the infection. Medications biological type help fight bacteria. If within two days the effect of antibiotics is not observed, the medicine is replaced and the drug is prescribed, taking into account the tests taken.

Consequences of the disease

The prognosis for the development of radiation sickness in each specific case depends on the dose of radiation received. A favorable outcome can be expected if the patient manages to survive 12 weeks after receiving a dose of radiation.

After irradiation without lethal outcome, people are diagnosed with various complications, disorders, hemoblastoses, oncological processes. Loss often occurs reproductive function, and in children born, genetic abnormalities are often observed.

Often exacerbated infectious diseases flow into a chronic form, there are all kinds of infections shaped elements blood. After receiving a dose of radiation, people may experience vision problems, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, the appearance of the vitreous body changes. The so-called dystrophic processes can develop in the body.

To protect yourself as much as possible from possible diseases after radiation sickness, you need to contact specialized medical institutions. It must be remembered that radiation always hits the most weak points in organism.

Description:

Radiation sickness is a disease resulting from exposure to various kinds ionizing radiation and is characterized by a symptom complex that depends on the type of damaging radiation, its dose, localization of the source of radioactive substances, distribution of the dose over time and the human body.

Symptoms:

The clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the total dose of radiation, as well as on its distribution over time and in the human body. Depending on the nature of the spatial distribution of the dose, radiation sickness caused by uniform (general), local and uneven irradiation is distinguished, and according to the dose distribution in time, acute and chronic radiation sickness. The development of the disease can be due to both external exposure and exposure to radionuclides that have entered the body.

Acute radiation sickness in humans develops with short-term (from several minutes to 1-3 days) irradiation of the whole body at a dose exceeding 1 Gy. It can occur when a person is in the area of radiation or radioactive fallout, violation of the operating conditions of powerful radiation sources, leading to an accident, the use of general exposure for medical purposes.

The main manifestations of acute radiation sickness are determined by damage to the hematopoiesis with the development of bone marrow aplasia and complications caused by cytopenia - hemorrhagic syndrome, infectious lesions of organs, sepsis; violation of the physiological reproduction of the epithelium of the small intestine with exposure of the mucous membrane, loss of protein, fluid and electrolytes; severe intoxication due to massive destruction of radiosensitive tissues (bone marrow, small intestine, and skin - with extensive damage by weakly penetrating external beta radiation); direct damage to the central nervous system with a violation of its functions, especially the central regulation of blood circulation and respiration. In accordance with this, bone marrow, intestinal, toxemic, neuro-cerebral and transitional forms of acute radiation sickness are distinguished between them, arising respectively after total irradiation in the following dose ranges: 1 - 10, 10 - 50, 50-100 and more than 100 Gy.

The bone marrow form of acute radiation sickness lends itself to effective treatment. In the period of its formation, 4 phases are clearly distinguished: primary reaction, the latent phase, the peak phase, or pronounced clinical manifestations, and the early recovery phase. The duration of the disease is about 2 - 3 months from the moment of irradiation (with more severe lesions up to 3 - 6 months)

Acute radiation sickness of mild (I) degree occurs when exposed to ionizing radiation at a dose of 1-2.5 Gy. A moderately pronounced primary reaction (dizziness, rarely nausea) is observed 2-3 hours after irradiation. Changes in the skin and mucous membranes, as a rule, are not detected. Latent phase lasts 25-30 days. The number of lymphocytes (in 1 µl of blood) in the first 1-3 days decreases to 1000 - 500 cells (1-0.5 109 / l), leukocytes at the height of the disease - up to 3500-1500 (3.5 - 1.5 109 / l). l), platelets on the 26-28th day - up to 60,000-10,000 (60-40 109/l); ESR moderately increases. Infectious complications are rare. Bleeding is not observed. Recovery is slow but complete.

Acute radiation sickness of medium (II) degree develops when exposed to ionizing radiation at a dose of 2.5 - 4 Gy. The primary reaction (headache, sometimes) occurs after 1-2 hours. Skin erythema may appear. The latent phase lasts 20-25 days. The number of lymphocytes in the first 7 days decreases to 500, the number of granulocytes in the peak phase (20-30 days) - up to 500 cells per 1 μl of blood (0.5 109/l); ESR - 25 -40 mm/h. Infectious complications, changes in the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx are characteristic, with a platelet count of less than 40,000 in 1 μl of blood (40,109/l), slight signs of bleeding are revealed - petechiae in the skin. Fatal outcomes are possible, especially with delayed and inadequate treatment.

Acute radiation sickness of severe (III) degree is observed with. exposure to ionizing radiation at a dose of 4 - 10 Gy. The primary reaction occurs after 30-60 minutes and is pronounced (repeated vomiting, fever, skin erythema). The number of lymphocytes on the first day is 300 - 100, leukocytes from the 9-17th day - less than 500, platelets - less than 20,000 in 1 μl of blood. The duration of the latent phase does not exceed 10-15 days. At the height of the disease, marked fever, lesions of the oral mucosa and nasopharynx, infectious complications of various etiologies (bacterial, viral, fungal) and localization (lungs, intestines, etc.), moderate bleeding are noted. Increasing frequency of deaths (in the first 4 - 6 weeks).

Acute radiation sickness of extremely severe (IV) degree occurs when exposed to ionizing radiation at a dose of more than 10 Gy. Symptoms are due deep defeat hematopoiesis, characterized by early persistent lymphopenia - less than 100 cells per 1 μl of blood (0.1 109 / l), agranulocytosis, starting from the 8th day of thrombocytopenia - less than 20,000 in 1 μl of blood (20 109 / l), and then anemia . With an increase in the dose, all manifestations are aggravated, the duration of the latent phase is reduced, damage to other organs (intestines, skin, brain) and the general one become of paramount importance. Lethal outcomes are almost inevitable.

With an increase in the severity of acute radiation sickness in people who survived the period of its formation, the completeness of subsequent recovery decreases, residual effects of hematopoietic damage (thrombocytopenia and) are more pronounced, develop, progress dystrophic changes skin, showing signs of asthenia.

Causes of occurrence:

In humans, radiation sickness can be caused by external radiation and internal - when radioactive substances enter the body with inhaled air, through gastrointestinal tract or through the skin and mucous membranes, as well as by injection.

General clinical manifestations radiation sickness depend mainly on the total dose of radiation received. Doses up to 1 Gy (100 rad) cause relatively mild changes that can be considered as a pre-illness condition. Doses above 1 Gy cause bone marrow or enteric form radiation sickness of varying severity, which depend mainly on damage to the hematopoietic organs. Single exposure doses above 10 Gy are considered absolutely lethal.

Treatment:

For treatment appoint:

Treatment consists in providing an aseptic regimen (in special or adapted wards), prevention infectious complications and appointment symptomatic remedies. With the development and fever, even without identifying foci of infection, antibiotics are used a wide range actions and according to indications ( herpetic infection) antiviral drugs. To increase the effectiveness of anti-infective therapy, drugs are prescribed hyperimmune plasma and gamma globulin.

Replacement of platelet deficiency (less than 20,000 cells per 1 μl of blood) is carried out by introducing a platelet mass obtained, if possible, from one donor (300,109/l cells per infusion), after its preliminary irradiation at a dose of 15 Gy. According to indications (anemia - less than 2,500,000 erythrocytes in 1 μl of blood), washed fresh erythrocytes are transfused.

At general exposure in the dose range of 8-12 Gy, the absence of contraindications and the presence of a donor, bone marrow transplantation is justified, taking into account tissue compatibility.

Local lesions of the mucous membranes require systematic special care and treatment of the mouth, nose, pharynx with bactericidal and mucolytic drugs. For the treatment and anesthesia of skin lesions, aerosols and collagen films, moisturizing dressings with tanning and antiseptics, and later ointment dressings with hydrocortisone derivatives based on wax and propolis. non-healing wounds and ulcerative lesions excised with subsequent plasty. Correction of water-electrolyte and other metabolic disorders carried out according to the general rules of intensive care.

In cases mass destruction acute radiation sickness is often combined with the effects of thermal, chemical or mechanical factors. In these cases, it is necessary to somewhat simplify the methods of treatment due to the difficulties of their implementation in full (prescription of drugs of prolonged action inside, treatment of wounds under a bandage, compliance with the simplest asepsis regimen, etc.).

The main means of prevention are measures that limit the levels of exposure to the whole body and its individual parts: shielding, limiting the time spent in intense radiation fields, and taking special prophylactic agents.

Modern people have a remote understanding of radiation and its consequences, because the last large-scale catastrophe occurred more than 30 years ago. Ionizing radiation is invisible, but can cause dangerous and irreversible changes in human body. In large, single doses, it is absolutely deadly.

What is radiation sickness?

This term means pathological condition caused by exposure to any type of radiation. It is accompanied by symptoms depending on several factors:

type of ionizing radiation;
received dose;
the rate at which radiation exposure enters the body;
source localization;
dose distribution in the human body.

Acute radiation sickness

This course of pathology occurs as a result of uniform exposure to a large amount of radiation. Acute radiation sickness develops at radiation doses exceeding 100 rad (1 Gy). This volume of radioactive particles must be obtained once, over a short period of time. Radiation sickness of this form immediately causes noticeable clinical manifestations. At doses of more than 10 Gy, a person dies after a short torment.

chronic radiation sickness

The type of problem under consideration is a complex clinical syndrome. The chronic course of the disease is observed if the doses of radioactive exposure are low, amounting to 10-50 rad per day for a long time. Specific features pathologies appear when the total amount of ionization reaches 70-100 rad (0.7-1 Gy). Difficulty timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment consists in intensive processes of cell renewal. Damaged tissues are restored, and the symptoms remain invisible for a long time.

The characteristic signs of the described pathology occur under the influence of:

x-ray radiation;
ions, including alpha and beta;
gamma rays;
neutrons;
protons;
muons and other elementary particles.

Causes of acute radiation sickness:

man-made disasters in the field of nuclear energy;
the use of total irradiation in oncology, hematology, rheumatology;
use of nuclear weapons.

radiation sickness with chronic course develops against:

frequent radiological or radionuclide studies in medicine;
professional activities related to ionizing radiation;
eating contaminated food and water;
living in a radioactive area.

Forms of radiation sickness

The types of pathology presented are classified separately for the acute and chronic nature of the disease. In the first case, the following forms are distinguished:

Bone marrow. Corresponds to a radiation dose of 1-6 Gy. This is the only type of pathology that has degrees of severity and periods of progression.
transitional. Develops after exposure to ionizing radiation at a dose of 6-10 Gy. Dangerous state sometimes ending in death.
Intestinal. Occurs when exposed to radiation 10-20 Gy. Specific signs are observed in the first minutes of the lesion, death occurs after 8-16 days due to total loss intestinal epithelium.
Vascular. Another name is the toxemic form of acute radiation sickness, it corresponds to an ionization dose of 20-80 Gy. Death occurs in 4-7 days due to severe hemodynamic disorders.
Cerebral (lightning, acute). The clinical picture is accompanied by loss of consciousness and a sharp drop in blood pressure after exposure to radiation of 80-120 Gy. A lethal outcome is observed in the first 3 days, sometimes a person dies within a few hours.
Death under the beam. At doses of more than 120 Gy, a living organism dies instantly.

Radiation chronic illness is divided into 3 types:

Basic. External uniform exposure to radiation for a long time.
Heterogeneous. Includes both external and internal irradiation with a selective effect on certain organs and tissues.
Combined. Uneven exposure to radiation (local and systemic) with overall impact for the whole organism.

Degrees of radiation sickness

The severity of the violation in question is assessed according to the amount of radiation received. Degrees of manifestation of radiation sickness:

light - 1-2 Gy;
moderate - 2-4 Gy;
heavy - 4-6 Gy;
extremely heavy - more than 6 Gy.

Radiation sickness - symptoms

The clinical picture of the pathology depends on its form and the degree of damage to internal organs and tissues. General signs radiation sickness at a mild stage:

weakness;
nausea;
headaches;
pronounced blush;
drowsiness;
fatigue;
feeling of dryness.

Symptoms of more severe radiation exposure:

vomit;
fever;
diarrhea;
pronounced redness of the skin;
fainting;
Strong headache;
hypotension;
fuzzy pulse;
lack of coordination;
convulsive twitching of the limbs;
lack of appetite;
bleeding;
the formation of ulcers on the mucous membranes;
hair loss;
thinning, brittle nails;
violations of the genital organs;
respiratory infections;
trembling fingers;
disappearance of tendon reflexes;
decreased muscle tone;
internal hemorrhages;
deterioration of higher brain activity;
hepatitis and others.

Periods of radiation sickness

Acute radiation damage occurs in 4 stages. Each period depends on the stage of radiation sickness and its severity:

primary reaction. First stage lasts 1-5 days, its duration is calculated depending on the received dose of radiation - the amount in Gy + 1. The main symptom of the primary reaction is acute, including 5 basic signs - headache, weakness, vomiting, redness of the skin and body temperature.
Imaginary well-being. The "walking corpse" phase is characterized by the absence of a specific clinical picture. The patient thinks that the radiation sickness has receded, but the pathological changes in the body are progressing. Diagnosis of the disease is possible only by violations of the blood composition.
Razgar. At this stage, most of the symptoms listed above are observed. Their severity depends on the severity of the lesion and the dose of ionizing radiation received.
Recovery. At allowable amount radiation, compatible with life, and adequate therapy, recovery begins. All organs and systems gradually return to normal functioning.

Radiation sickness - treatment

Therapy is developed after the results of the examination of the affected person. Effective treatment radiation sickness depends on the degree of damage and the severity of the pathology. When receiving small doses of radiation, it comes down to stopping the symptoms of poisoning and cleansing the body of toxins. In severe cases, special therapy is needed to correct all the disorders that have arisen.

Radiation sickness - first aid

If a person has been exposed to radiation, a team of specialists should be called immediately. Before they arrive, you need to perform some manipulations.

Acute radiation sickness - first aid:

Completely undress the victim (clothing is then disposed of).
Thoroughly wash the body under the shower.
Rinse eyes, mouth and nasal cavity soda solution.
Rinse the stomach and intestines.
Give an antiemetic (Metoclopramide or any equivalent).

Acute radiation sickness - treatment

Upon admission to the hospital of the clinic, a person is placed in a sterile ward (box) to prevent infection and other complications of the described pathology. Radiation sickness requires the following therapeutic regimen:

Cessation of vomiting. Ondansetron, Metoclopramide, neuroleptic Chlorpromazine are prescribed. In the presence of an ulcer, platyfillin hydrotartrate or atropine sulfate is better suited.
Detoxification. Droppers with physiological and glucose solution, Dextran preparations are used.
replacement therapy. Severe radiation sickness parenteral nutrition. For this, fat emulsions and solutions with high content trace elements, amino acids and vitamins - Intralipid, Lipofundin, Infezol, Aminol and others.
Restoration of blood composition. To accelerate the formation of granulocytes and increase their concentration in the body, Filgrastim is administered intravenously. Most patients with radiation sickness are additionally shown daily transfusion of donor blood.
Treatment and prevention of infections. Strong ones are needed - Metillicin, Tseporin, Kanamycin and analogues. Biological-type preparations, for example, hyperimmune, anti-staphylococcal plasma, help to increase their effectiveness.
Activity suppression intestinal microflora and fungi. In this case, antibiotics are also prescribed - Neomycin, Gentamicin, Ristomycin. Nystatin, Amphotericin B is used to prevent candidiasis.
Virus therapy. As preventive treatment Acyclovir is recommended.
Fighting bleeding. Improving blood clotting and strengthening vascular walls provide steroid hormones, Dicinon, Rutin, fibrinogen protein, E-ACC preparation.
Restoration of microcirculation and prevention of blood clots. Heparins are used - Nadroparin, Enoxaparin and synonyms.
Relief of inflammatory processes. Maximum quick effect produces Prednisolone in small doses.
collapse prevention. Shown are Niketamide, Phenylephrine, Sulfocamphocaine.
Improvement of neuroendocrine regulation. Novocaine is administered intravenously, B vitamins, calcium gluconate are additionally used.
Antiseptic treatment of ulcers on mucous membranes. Rinsing with soda or novocaine solution, Furacilin, hydrogen peroxide, propolis emulsion and similar means are recommended.
Local therapy of the affected skin. Wet dressings with Rivanol, Linol, Furacilin are applied to the burned areas.
symptomatic treatment. Depending on the symptoms present, patients are prescribed sedatives, antihistamines and painkillers, tranquilizers.