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Occupational Medicine221 papers

Radiation sickness

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Radiation sickness, also known as acute radiation syndrome (ARS), results from exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation over a short period, leading to cellular damage and dysfunction across multiple organ systems. 111

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Symptoms vary based on dose and exposure route, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hematological abnormalities, and gastrointestinal issues. 111
  • Radiation Dose Estimation: Critical for diagnosis, often estimated using biodosimetry techniques like dicentric chromosome analysis or cytogenetic methods. 111
  • Grading: Severity classified into four syndromes: Hematopoietic, Gastrointestinal, Cutaneous, and Neurovascular, based on latency and affected organs. 111
  • Management

  • Decontamination: Immediate removal of radioactive material from the skin and clothing to prevent further exposure. 1
  • Supportive Care: Focus on symptom management including fluid resuscitation, antiemetics for nausea, and blood transfusions for hematological support. 1
  • Pharmacological Interventions: Use of hematopoietic growth factors like G-CSF for hematopoietic syndrome; no specific drug doses mentioned in abstracts. 1
  • Monitoring: Frequent clinical assessments and laboratory monitoring for organ function and complications. 1
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Specific guidelines for pregnant women exposed to radiation are not detailed in provided abstracts; general supportive care principles apply. 1
  • Pediatrics: Children are more radiosensitive; management emphasizes minimizing exposure and providing intensive supportive care. 1
  • Elderly: Increased risk of severe complications due to pre-existing conditions; tailored supportive care addressing comorbidities is crucial. 1
  • Comorbidities: Patients with pre-existing conditions may require adjusted management strategies focusing on organ-specific support. 1
  • Key Recommendations

  • Immediate Decontamination: Remove radioactive material to prevent additional exposure. (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1
  • Supportive Care Focus: Prioritize fluid management, symptom control, and organ-specific support based on syndrome presentation. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • Biodosimetry Utilization: Employ biodosimetry for accurate dose estimation to guide treatment intensity. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • Close Monitoring: Regular clinical and laboratory monitoring essential for early detection of complications. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • References

    1 Panic H, Wexler D, Stephanian B, Pedro Correia J, Sides M, Hoffman T. Otolaryngological and Neuro-Vestibular Considerations for Commercial Spaceflight. Aerospace medicine and human performance 2025. link 2 Reinhard R, Tutulmaz E, Rutrecht HM, Hengstenberg P, Geissler B, Hecht H et al.. Effects of Visually Induced Motion Sickness on Emergency Braking Reaction Times in a Driving Simulator. Human factors 2019. link 3 de Brouwer CPM, Verdonk P, van Amelsvoort LGPM, Jansen NWH, Kant I, Widdershoven GAM. Experiences of occupational physicians with the implementation of indicated prevention for long term sickness absence. Work (Reading, Mass.) 2017. link 4 King R, Murphy R, Wyse A, Roche E. Irish GP attitudes towards sickness certification and the 'fit note'. Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) 2016. link 5 Bonato F, Bubka A, Krueger WW. A Wearable Device Providing a Visual Fixation Point for the Alleviation of Motion Sickness Symptoms. Military medicine 2015. link 6 Money A, Hann M, Turner S, Hussey L, Agius R. The influence of prior training on GPs' attitudes to sickness absence certification post-fit note. Primary health care research & development 2015. link 7 Gran JM, Lie SA, Øyeflaten I, Borgan Ø, Aalen OO. Causal inference in multi-state models-sickness absence and work for 1145 participants after work rehabilitation. BMC public health 2015. link 8 Gustavsson C, Kjeldgård L, Bränström R, Lindholm C, Ljungquist T, Nilsson GH et al.. Problems experienced by gynecologists/obstetricians in sickness certification consultations. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 2013. link 9 Wardlaw MP. American medicine as religious practice: care of the sick as a sacred obligation and the unholy descent into secularization. Journal of religion and health 2011. link 10 Thorstensson CA, Mathiasson J, Arvidsson B, Heide A, Petersson IF. Cooperation between gatekeepers in sickness insurance - the perspective of social insurance officers. A qualitative study. BMC health services research 2008. link 11 Ward MP, Milledge JS. Griffith Pugh, pioneer Everest physiologist. High altitude medicine & biology 2002. link 12 Kinoshita N, Yamazaki H, Onishi S, Oguma Y, Katsukawa F, Horii M. Physiological profile of middle-aged and older climbers who ascended Gasherbrum II, an 8035-m Himalayan peak. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 2000. link 13 Bhatia RS. Pseudo sickness. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 1990. link 14 Seeliger HP, Seefried L. Aldo Castellani--an appraisal of his life and oeuvre. Mycoses 1989. link 15 Gehlbach SH, Williams WA, Freeman JI. Protective clothing as a means of reducing nicotine absorption in tobacco harvesters. Archives of environmental health 1979. link 16 Taylor PJ. Self-certification for brief spells of sickness absence. British medical journal 1969. link 17 Taylor PJ. Personal factors associated with sickness absence. A study 194 men with contrasting sickness absence experience in a refinery population. British journal of industrial medicine 1968. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Otolaryngological and Neuro-Vestibular Considerations for Commercial Spaceflight.Panic H, Wexler D, Stephanian B, Pedro Correia J, Sides M, Hoffman T Aerospace medicine and human performance (2025)
    2. [2]
      Effects of Visually Induced Motion Sickness on Emergency Braking Reaction Times in a Driving Simulator.Reinhard R, Tutulmaz E, Rutrecht HM, Hengstenberg P, Geissler B, Hecht H et al. Human factors (2019)
    3. [3]
      Experiences of occupational physicians with the implementation of indicated prevention for long term sickness absence.de Brouwer CPM, Verdonk P, van Amelsvoort LGPM, Jansen NWH, Kant I, Widdershoven GAM Work (Reading, Mass.) (2017)
    4. [4]
      Irish GP attitudes towards sickness certification and the 'fit note'.King R, Murphy R, Wyse A, Roche E Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) (2016)
    5. [5]
    6. [6]
      The influence of prior training on GPs' attitudes to sickness absence certification post-fit note.Money A, Hann M, Turner S, Hussey L, Agius R Primary health care research & development (2015)
    7. [7]
      Causal inference in multi-state models-sickness absence and work for 1145 participants after work rehabilitation.Gran JM, Lie SA, Øyeflaten I, Borgan Ø, Aalen OO BMC public health (2015)
    8. [8]
      Problems experienced by gynecologists/obstetricians in sickness certification consultations.Gustavsson C, Kjeldgård L, Bränström R, Lindholm C, Ljungquist T, Nilsson GH et al. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (2013)
    9. [9]
    10. [10]
      Cooperation between gatekeepers in sickness insurance - the perspective of social insurance officers. A qualitative study.Thorstensson CA, Mathiasson J, Arvidsson B, Heide A, Petersson IF BMC health services research (2008)
    11. [11]
      Griffith Pugh, pioneer Everest physiologist.Ward MP, Milledge JS High altitude medicine & biology (2002)
    12. [12]
      Physiological profile of middle-aged and older climbers who ascended Gasherbrum II, an 8035-m Himalayan peak.Kinoshita N, Yamazaki H, Onishi S, Oguma Y, Katsukawa F, Horii M The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences (2000)
    13. [13]
      Pseudo sickness.Bhatia RS The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (1990)
    14. [14]
      Aldo Castellani--an appraisal of his life and oeuvre.Seeliger HP, Seefried L Mycoses (1989)
    15. [15]
      Protective clothing as a means of reducing nicotine absorption in tobacco harvesters.Gehlbach SH, Williams WA, Freeman JI Archives of environmental health (1979)
    16. [16]
      Self-certification for brief spells of sickness absence.Taylor PJ British medical journal (1969)
    17. [17]

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