A client has potential radiation contamination from a disaster. The nurse should monitor for which of the following related to this contamination? Select all that apply.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiation damages the DNA, which causes cell destruction. Radiation (and chemotherapy) usually affects tissues with rapidly proliferating cells (eg, oral mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow) first, followed by tissues with slowly proliferating cells (eg, cartilage, bone, kidney). As a result, early manifestations of radiation damage include oral mucosal ulcerations, vomiting/diarrhea, and low blood cell counts. The extent of radiation exposure can be monitored indirectly by measuring blood cell counts. (Option A) A bitter almond smell on the client's breath is a classic sign of cyanide poisoning. (Option B) Fever and raised skin pustules are signs/symptoms of smallpox, which is transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets. Infection starts with fever, followed by a rash and then sharply raised pustules. Educational objective: Radiation contamination (and chemotherapy) affects rapidly proliferating (dividing) cells first, such as those of the oral mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, and bone marrow.

A Client Has Potential Radiation Contamination from a Disaster