What Is Acute Radiation Syndrome?
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs when the body is exposed to very high doses of ionizing radiation. Also known as radiation poisoning or radiation sickness, ARS is a serious, but treatable disease that affects the digestive system, the skin, and hair. The severity of symptoms directly correlates to the amount of radiation absorbed by the body. Symptoms to the digestive system can begin within minutes and up to days after exposure and include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Swelling, itching, hair loss, and a burn similar to severe sunburn can appear within a few hours after exposure and last a few weeks to a few years, depending on the level of exposure. In order to develop ARS the radiation must penetrate the body and reach the internal organs. Radiation from X-rays and CT scans are typically too low to cause ARS. Treatment consists of controlling pain, treating organs that have been damaged, and preventing further contamination. As a precautionary measure, Japan distributed 230,000 units of potassium iodine to evacuation centers. Potassium iodine can be used for protection against thyroid cancer in the case of radiation exposure, but it does not protect the rest of the body.