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Overdoses of radiation to head more widespread than first thought
Patients who received massive overdoses of radiation to the head during tests for strokes at hospitals in California and Alabama may face long-term risks of cancer and brain damage, according to the New York Times. The newspaper launched an investigation into the overdoses that were first reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October.
At that time, the agency said it had received reports of more than 200 patients at one hospital receiving excessive doses of radiation to the head, which resulted in hair loss and erythema, or redness of the skin. The Times has since found that the radiation overdoses were larger and more widespread than originally thought – exceeding 400 from eight different hospitals – and that some patients reported symptoms far worse than hair loss, including memory loss and confusion.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to swallow over-the-counter Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel meant to be rubbed on the skin because it could cause serious harmful effects. The agency has received reports of unconsciousness, hallucinations and confusion in people who mistakenly swallowed the topical gel.
