Health

Managing Editor's Notes

The FDA is proposed guidelines Wednesday urging manufacturers to design new scanners to limit the dose of radiation small children receive from CT scans and other X-ray based tests. I applaud the FDA for bring attention to radiation dosages in the pediatric population.  For years, we have seen that the average child has received numerous doses of diagnostic radiation by the age of 18.  Most CT scans are done in general hospital ERs as well as radiological centers where the equipment has not been calibrated for children.  We need to better track the overall frequency of exposure from X-rays and CT scans in order to reduce the amount of X-ray exposures on small children.  As a parent, please try to keep a log of how many X-rays your child has gotten and always inform your physician when there is another need for a diagnostic test. Click here to read more.