Are X-Rays Safe for Children?

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Are X-Rays Safe for Children?

X-Rays are a routine part of medical visits, from checking tooth alignment at the dentist to examining broken bones at the doctor’s office. While they are safe for adults to have, children are more vulnerable to the risks involved because they are still growing. Here is what parents should know about x-rays and how they affect children.

How X-Rays Work

X-rays are short wavelengths of electromagnetic energy that can help us see structures in the body. This is because when they pass through the body, larger atoms such as the ones in our bone absorb the rays, while soft tissue like our skin and organs simply let the rays pass through. X-rays can cause minor cell damage, but the cells can repair themselves if they are only exposed to the rays briefly. The radiation that we are exposed to during a typical x-ray is about the same as 10 days of the exposure we get from background radiation in the environment. There should only be a concern for radiation if you or your child receives lots of x-rays within a short period of time.

How X-Rays Affect Children

The reason that children can be more at risk from this cell damage is because they are growing, and so their cells are dividing more frequently. This causes a higher risk of cell mutation, which can in turn create new mutated cells and possibly lead to cancer. It’s important to keep in mind that this risk is still very low, and should only be a concern if your child receives many x-rays within a short period of time.

Another type of scan, called a computed topographic (CT) scan, can be more dangerous for children. CT scans provide images of the brain and other organs and use 200 to 300 times more radiation than an x-ray. As a result, these types of scans should only be performed on children if they are medically necessary. In most cases, the long-term benefits of having CT scans performed outweigh the short-term risks.

How You Can Stay Informed

If you are ever concerned about the necessity and safety of x-rays and other medical scans being performed on your children, it never hurts to talk to your doctor, radiologist, or other medical specialist about it. Many machines can now be adjusted for children so that they don’t emit as much radiation, and medical offices generally provide patients with lead aprons and coverings for areas of the body that don’t need to be scanned.

Article written by Annie Evans who has worked as a certified radiologist for over 15 years. She loves writing articles about health and radiology. Annie is also the owner of Become an X-ray Technician

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