The harm of iodine 131 to others

Povidone-iodine is a disinfectant we often use, but iodine-131 can cause great harm to the human body. Many people think that povidone-iodine and iodine-131 are the same thing. First of all, in terms of safety, iodine-131 has low safety and a very high carcinogenicity rate. In addition, iodine-131 has a great impact on sexual organs and may affect fertility. Therefore, we must use iodine-131 with caution, especially for minors and pregnant women and children.

1. May cause cancer

The incidence of leukemia and the probability of cancer after iodine-131 treatment have become a hot topic of concern. Current statistics show that the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased significantly after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, so we should not ignore the hidden dangers of radiation-induced cancer. At the same time, radiation can cause a decrease in white blood cells and platelets. Leukopenia is the most fundamental cause of leukemia. Although the number of people who develop leukemia due to iodine-131 treatment is not large, we cannot rule out the possibility of iodine-131 causing leukemia.

2. May cause fertility problems

In the process of iodine 131 absorption, metabolism and secretion, the reproductive organs of men and women are equivalent to facing a small nuclear radiation pollution. Long-term iodine 131 treatment will have a certain impact on body functions. Long-term iodine 131 accumulation and concentration, male and female reproductive organs can not avoid the danger of radiation, which may cause fertility changes.

3. Those who cannot be treated with iodine-131

3.1. It is absolutely forbidden for pregnant and lactating patients with hyperthyroidism, because after the mother ingests radioactive iodine, it can enter the thyroid gland of the fetus or infant through the placenta or breast milk, causing the fetus or infant to suffer from hypothyroidism (cretinism).

3.2. It is absolutely forbidden to use in patients under 20 years old who suffer from hyperthyroidism for the first time.

3.3. It is absolutely forbidden to use radioactive iodine in patients with hyperthyroidism and myocardial infarction because the release of thyroid hormones after treatment with 131 iodine can increase the burden on the heart, so radioactive iodine cannot be used for treatment.

3.4. It is absolutely forbidden for patients with severe heart, liver, kidney failure or active pulmonary tuberculosis to use this product.

3.5. It is absolutely forbidden for patients with severe infiltrative exophthalmos to use this product.

3.6. It is absolutely forbidden to use during the hyperthyroid crisis period. The recurrence rate of hyperthyroidism after treatment with iodine-131 is 30% to 60%, and the incidence of hypothyroidism is 20% to 70%.

1. Matters that patients should pay attention to in their diet

1.1. Avoid eating spicy food, drinking strong tea, coffee and alcohol. Male patients should quit smoking. These can cause changes in the amount of thyroid hormone needed by the body, thereby aggravating the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

1.2. Maintain a calm mind, don’t be too happy, don’t be too sad, and don’t overwork (physically and mentally), as these can also aggravate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

1.3. After urinating or defecating, flush the toilet at least twice to reduce the radioactivity in the toilet. Used clothes and used beddings should not be worn by others. If used again, they should be left for a period of time (2-3 months) before being used again.

2. Matters that their family members should pay attention to

2.1. Be aware of the hazards of radiation and cooperate with patients in isolation.

2.2. Patients are not prohibited from seeing people during the isolation period, as this will cause psychological pressure on them. Family members can have appropriate contact with the patient, but they must follow the following: stay 1.5-2 meters away from the patient and the contact time should not exceed half an hour at a time.

2.3. Supervise patients to cooperate with doctors’ treatment. Including: whether taking iodine-containing foods, whether being tired, quitting smoking and drinking, and urging patients to go to the hospital for follow-up examinations on time, etc.

1. The cure rate of using iodine 131 is high

Through the examination of thyroid iodine uptake function, accurate measurement of thyroid size and based on the patient's condition, the patient's treatment dose can be individualized and optimized, thereby improving the one-time cure rate. A small number of patients only need two treatments, and very few patients need 3-4 treatments.

2. The recurrence rate is low when using iodine-131 treatment

Since the hyperfunctioning and proliferative thyroid cells have been destroyed, the disease is less likely to relapse (the recurrence rate is only 1-4%). Medical treatment for hyperthyroidism only inhibits the function of thyroid cells to synthesize thyroid hormones, but the thyroid cells are not destroyed. Therefore, once the medication is stopped, the hyperfunctioning and proliferative thyroid cells can quickly resume the function of synthesizing thyroid hormones. The recurrence rate is bound to be very high, and most patients require long-term treatment.

In Europe, the United States and other countries, iodine-131 has become the main method for treating hyperthyroidism, but this method can only be performed in hospitals with adequate technology and equipment. The key to its treatment is to determine the appropriate therapeutic dose to improve the cure rate and reduce the incidence of premature hypothyroidism.