What's New?
.	Fukushima Decontamination Report
.	CRCPD & CDC Grants for Volunteer Corps
.	America's Nuclear Future
.	February Newsletter
.	Boice Nominated President of NCRP
.	February Journal
.	February ORS
.	Schauer Given the Butterfly Award from Image Gently
.	Kase President's Report to IRPA
.	IRPA13 Accepting Posters

Upcoming Events
.	HPS Midyear - Issues in Waste Management 5-8 February 2012 Dallas, Texas
.	NRC Regulatory Information Conference NRC Regulatory Information Conference 13-15 March 2012 Rockville, Maryland
.	NCRP Annual Meeting 12-13 March 2012 Washington, DC
.	James E. Turner Memorial Symposium Call for Abstracts 18-19 April 2012 Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Pollard Auditorium, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
.	IRPA13 13-18 May 2012 Glasgow, Scotland
.	Canadian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA) Annual Meeting 27-30 May 2012 Halifax, Nova Scotia
.	ACS Undergrad Summer Schools 10 June- 20 July 2012
.	Nuclear Regulatory Commission Meeting Webcasts February 2012 Bethesda, Maryland

09 February 2012

Answer to Question #2912 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Radiation Effects — Biological Effects of Radiation

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

One week after having a VQ scan, I developed a severe chest cold with a lot of sinus pressure. It has been two weeks since the symptoms started and seems to be more persistent than any other cold I've had. I don't have any signs of getting better any time soon. I've read that radiation reduces immunities. When I had the scan, I was told that the amount of radiation is like being out in the sun for a couple of days. Is there a connection between developing this cold after having this scan?

Radiation does suppress the immune system, but the dose must be large. The only sources of such doses are nuclear accidents, nuclear war, or therapeutic radiation for treatment of cancer. Exposures in the range you received from your scan are much smaller (a factor of at least 1,000). These low doses have been associated with stimulation of the immune system.

Conclusion: There is no known mechanism for relating your diagnostic exposure to your infection.

S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD

Answer posted on 4 September 2003. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.