Radiation Risks in Pediatric Chest X-rays

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HEALTH SCIENCE
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HEALTH SCIENCE
Children of up to one year in age are vulnerable to different diseases that can alter the
normal functioning of the respiratory as well as the cardiovascular system. Some of the notable
forms of the diseases include respiratory distress syndrome, the post-delivery acquired
pneumonia, pneumothorax and finally the congenital heart failures(Daldrup-Link and Goodling,
2010;).in most of the cases, admission to the pediatric intensive care unit abbreviated as PICU is
the end result. To further extent, the infants go through extended duration under incubation,
pressure ventilation as well as the oxygen administration processes (Daldrup-Link and Goodling,
2010).Since all these procedure involves insertion of tubes and catheters, chest x-rays are
recommended to ensure they are placed at the right place. Besides the chest x-rays, chest
radiographs are also carried out so as to effectively study the configuration of the chest as well
its aeration and the general appearance of the heart and its vessels and to further monitor how the
patient is recuperating from the respiratory condition. Erect post anterior is the best radiograph
recommended for infants unless they are unable to sit up on their own when erect AP or AP are
used.
X-rays are however known to be a risk factor in the development of cancer. It is
estimated that exposure to 0.5 and 120msv of the dose rate increases the chances of developing
cancer. Since the rate at which cells divide in infants is very rapid, infants are prone to
carcinogenesis than adults. Another reason as to why infants are at a higher risk of
carcinogenesis is the fact that the cumulative effects of radiation. It is widely believed that the
younger the age of the age is inversely proportional to carcinogenesis in case they are exposed to
radiation (Zammit-Maempel, Chapple, & Leslie, 2006). Since cancer takes a lot of time to