What is radioactive iodine poisoning and how is it treated?
Radiation poisoning damages organs and other tissues. Radioactive iodine released into the air gets into the lungs and may also contaminate the local food supply. Farm animals and agriculture all are contaminated by radiation creating increased radiation exposure for years to come. This internal contamination with radioactive iodine causes the thyroid gland to quickly absorb the radioactive iodine. Taking potassium iodine pills helps to prevent thyroid cancer. What is KI (potassium iodide)? Potassium Iodide (KI) is needed by the body to make thyroid hormones. The goal with taking the pills is to saturate the thyroid with healthy iodine to shield the thyroid from radioactive iodine. Taken an hour before known fallout, KI pills block the radioactive iodine to protect the thyroid gland, thus preventing cancer in the future. It only protects the thyroid, no other parts of the body. Children are the most sensitive to radioactive iodine. Iodine crosses the placenta and KI protects the growin
Related Questions
- In patients who have had thyroid cancer and been treated with the use of radioactive iodine, what would be the most sensitive test to let them know that there may still be some thyroid tissue left?
- What information can a patient who has been treated with radioactive iodine and is to be released expect to receive about the control of radioactive contamination?
- Should I be treated with antithyroid drugs for several months first, prior to receiving radioactive iodine for Graves disease?
