Radiation exposure and immunity status of radiographers at government hospitals
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: Long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation may affect cells, tissues, and body systems and result in various adverse health effects. Immunity system is known to be highly radiosensitive; therefore it is susceptible to radiation. Medical radiographers are occupationally exposed to chronic levels of ionizing radiation that may affect their immune response. Objective: To investigate the effects of exposure to radiation on health and well-being, including tests of immune function of medical radiographers (MRs) at government hospitals-Gaza governorates. Materials and Methods: A cohort study was conducted at six main government hospitals- Gaza governorates, Palestine. The immunity status of 92 medical radiographers who exposed to chronic ionizing radiation compared with control group of 97 medical laboratories who not exposed to chronic radiation. Result: The result revealed that several health complains such as headache were higher among medical radiographers (46.7%) compared to medical laboratories (10.3%) with highly statistically significant level (p=0.000). Regarding immunity systems, the study showed that clinical symptoms such as gastritis, sore throat, and repeated infections were prevailing among exposed group compared with non-exposed group. Other clinical symptoms such as skin diseases, fever, and pallor did not reached the statistically significant levels (p>0.05). About venous blood samples, the results exhibited that the mean of immunoglobulin G and A were higher among medical radiographers (1279±359), (215±108) compared with the control group (1225±209) and (1202±89) with no statistically significant level (p=0.324 and 0.498), respectively. Significant health complaints and clinical symptoms were recorded among medical radiographers compared with the matched control group. Conclusion: Personal monitoring for ionizing radiation, periodic medical examination, and increasing level of protection for MRs is of utmost importance.
Authors and Affiliations
Mousa Alnahhal, Yasser S M Alajerami, Sadi Jaber, Khaled Abushab, Ahmed Najim
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP299301
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2017.14062016583
- Views 95
- Downloads 0
Evaluation of rhinomanometrical and clinicoradiological differences of nasal airflow in deviated nasal septum
Background: Deviated nasal septum (DNS) is a comment cause of nasal obstruction may lead to the makeable changes in airflow, mucociliary clearance, nasal, and sinus mucosa. Rhinomanometry is an objective test for quantit...
Compare the efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine with fentanyl for epidural labor analgesia
Background: Attempts have been made to reduce or eliminate the pain associated with labor since ancient time. Obstetrics analgesia reached a new phase with lumbar epidural analgesia. We carried out a randomized study to...
Morbidity profile of children residing in orphanages - A cross-sectional study in Chitradurga, Karnataka
Background: Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are a group of underprivileged population in society. They do not receive proper physical and emotional care because they are unaccompanied, displaced, and lacking family...
Assessment of Sahiyya (Accredited Social Health Activist) in Relation to Child Health in Ranchi, Jharkhand
Background: Accredited social health activist (ASHA) is one of the key components of national rural health mission (NRHM) who can play an important role in identifying child morbidity at the earliest and...
Depression among medical students of Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Background: Medical students are future of health care but depression in them may lead to less productivity, reduced quality of life, learning dif fi culties, and may negatively affect patient care. Objectives: To...