Acute radiation syndrome: Difference between revisions

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==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
===Bone Marrow Syndrome===
*Bone Marrow Syndrome
*Gastrointestinal (GI) Syndrome
*Cardiovascular (CV)/Central Nervous System (CNS) Syndrome


 
===Clinical Course<ref name="SNSRWG" /><ref name="Donnelly">Donnelly EH1, Nemhauser JB, Smith JM, et al. Acute radiation syndrome: assessment and management. South Med J. 2010 Jun;103(6):541-6.</ref>===
===Gastrointestinal (GI) Syndrome===
 
 
===Cardiovascular (CV)/Central Nervous System (CNS) Syndrome===
 
 
==Clinical Course<ref name="SNSRWG" /><ref name="Donnelly">Donnelly EH1, Nemhauser JB, Smith JM, et al. Acute radiation syndrome: assessment and management. South Med J. 2010 Jun;103(6):541-6.</ref>==
*Each ARS syndrome typically progresses through 4 stages of disease
*Each ARS syndrome typically progresses through 4 stages of disease


===Prodromal Stage===
====Prodromal Stage====
*Characterized by nausea and vomiting
*Characterized by nausea and vomiting
**Other symptoms include: malaise, fever, conjunctivitis
**Other symptoms include: malaise, fever, conjunctivitis
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*Lasts up to 2 days
*Lasts up to 2 days


===Latent Stage===
====Latent Stage====
*Short period of symptom improvement  
*Short period of symptom improvement  
*Lasts several days to 1 month
*Lasts several days to 1 month


===Manifest Illness Stage===
====Manifest Illness Stage====
*Manifestation of symptoms of clinical syndromes
*Manifestation of symptoms of clinical syndromes
*Severity based on, among other things:
*Severity based on, among other things:
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*Lasts for days to months
*Lasts for days to months


===Recovery or Death===
====Recovery or Death====
*If pt survives manifest illness stage, recovery is slow (weeks to years)
*If pt survives manifest illness stage, recovery is slow (weeks to years)
*If lethal dose received, death can occur within days (very high, rapid doses) or may be delayed up to several months
*If lethal dose received, death can occur within days (very high, rapid doses) or may be delayed up to several months
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{Nausea and vomiting DDX}}


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
*Clinical diagnosis, based on history and physical.
*Clinical diagnosis, based on history and physical.
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{Nausea and vomiting DDX}}


==Treatment==
==Treatment==


==Disposition==
==Disposition==

Revision as of 03:22, 13 July 2015

Background

  • Also called radiation poisoning, radiation toxicity, or radiation sickness.
  • Acute illness caused by exposure to high doses (at least 1 Gy)[1] of ionizing radiation over a short period of time.
    • 1 Gray (Gy) = 100 rads
  • Generally requires exposure of whole body (or most of the body)
  • Fast-replicating cell lines most affected - GI, lymphohematopoietic, spermatocytes

Clinical Features

  • Bone Marrow Syndrome
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) Syndrome
  • Cardiovascular (CV)/Central Nervous System (CNS) Syndrome

Clinical Course[1][2]

  • Each ARS syndrome typically progresses through 4 stages of disease

Prodromal Stage

  • Characterized by nausea and vomiting
    • Other symptoms include: malaise, fever, conjunctivitis
  • Occurs within 48h-6d of exposure (at higher doses, can begin within minutes)
  • Lasts up to 2 days

Latent Stage

  • Short period of symptom improvement
  • Lasts several days to 1 month

Manifest Illness Stage

  • Manifestation of symptoms of clinical syndromes
  • Severity based on, among other things:
    • Overall dose
    • Irradiated body volume
    • Comorbidities and overall health status
    • Age
  • Characterized by significant immunosuppression
  • Lasts for days to months

Recovery or Death

  • If pt survives manifest illness stage, recovery is slow (weeks to years)
  • If lethal dose received, death can occur within days (very high, rapid doses) or may be delayed up to several months

Differential Diagnosis

Nausea and vomiting

Critical

Emergent

Nonemergent

Diagnosis

  • Clinical diagnosis, based on history and physical.

Treatment

Disposition

  • Admit

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Waselenko JK, MacVittie TJ, Blakely WF, et al. Medical management of the acute radiation syndrome: recommendations of the Strategic National Stockpile Radiation Working Group. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Jun 15;140(12):1037-51.
  2. Donnelly EH1, Nemhauser JB, Smith JM, et al. Acute radiation syndrome: assessment and management. South Med J. 2010 Jun;103(6):541-6.