Radiation Overdose Treatment

An overdose of radiation can be very serious and even fatal. It usually results from acute exposure to large doses of radioactive substances. The amount of radiation absorbed by the body will determine how sick you become. Your treatment strategy aims to stop further contamination, treat damaged organs, lessen symptoms and control pain.

Decontamination

• The first line of defense against radiation poisoning involves getting rid of as many radioactive particles as possible; taking off your clothes and shoes usually eliminates most of the external contamination. Then wash your body thoroughly. These measures reduce your chances of internal contamination caused by inhalation, ingestion or open wounds.

Bone Marrow Damage

• Radioactive substances damage bone marrow. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a protein which encourages the formation of white blood cells, can cancel out the damaging effects of radiation sickness on the bone marrow. You will be prescribed Neupogen or Neulasta; these medications can increase your white cell count and prevent infections.

  Severely damaged bone marrow will require red blood cell or blood platelet transfusions

Internal Contamination

• If the radiation moves internally, several treatments can address potential organ damage. Treatment will depend on the type of radioactive elements affecting you.

  Infection with radioactive iodine (radioiodine) requires treatment with potassium iodide. Iodine is essential for normal thyroid activity. Your thyroid will absorb all forms of iodine in the body, including the poisonous form. The potassium iodide will counteract the negative effects and eventually the radioiodine will pass out of the body through your urine.

  Prussian blue, a form of dye, attaches itself to the radioactive particles cesium and thallium. This increases the speed at which the particles move through the body and inhibits the amount of radiation healthy cells will absorb. These particles are excreted through the feces.

  Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) attaches itself to metals. You will receive this treatment for radiation sickness resulting from plutonium, americium and curium. It helps move the particles quickly through the body and out the urine, reducing the spread to other cells.

Supportive Treatments

• Radiation sickness can cause a number of problems requiring medical intervention. Specific treatments will depend on which complications you experience. Common ones include bacterial infections, headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dehydration.