X-Rays Uses, Side Effects and How They Work Topic Guide

Battery ingestion commonly occurs in children five years of age and younger and the elderly. Symptoms of battery ingestion include vomiting, gagging, abdominal pain, fever, rash, dark or bloody stools, irritability, drooling, and difficulty breathing. If an infant, toddler, child, or the elderly has swallowed a battery, call the National Button Battery Ingestion Hotline at (800) 498-8666 to be consulted for battery identification and emergency instructions. If instructed, take the person to the nearest Emergency Department for medical care. If you cannot find the battery that was ingested from the device, bring it to the Emergency Department. Do not give the person antacids or ipecac.

Broken bones (also called fractures) in the foot are very common. A fracture of the foot is caused by trauma to the bones of the foot from accidents or repeated stress on the foot bones. The most common symptom of a broken foot is pain. Other symptoms include bruising or redness, deformity of the toes, and the inability to walk on the affected foot.

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

Chest X-ray is a common procedure ordered to diagnose certain diseases and conditions such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, emphysema, lung masses or nodules, tuberculosis, pleurisy, fractures, aortic aneurysms, or enlarged heart. Chest X-ray is a non-invasive and safe diagnostic procedure.

Chondromalacia patella (patellofemoral syndrome) is degeneration of the cartilage underneath the kneecap. Symptoms of chondromalacia patella include knee pain and a feeling of tightness or fullness. Treatment involves avoiding activities that irritate the cartilage under the kneecap, ice packs, anti-inflammatory medications,physical therapy, and stretching.

A frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder joint loses a significant amount of range of motion due to scarring. Injuries such as bursitis, tendinitis, and rotator cuff injuries may cause a frozen shoulder. Pain and tenderness are symptoms of a frozen shoulder. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and physical therapy. If you don't receive immediate treatment for frozen it may not heal and is permanent.

Kidney infection occurs when an infection from the bladder and urinary tract moves upward into the kidneys. Kidney infection is also referred to as pyelonephritis. Kidney infection has many causes, and common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, fatigue, burning urination, and others. Treatment for kidney infection is with antibiotics.

Munchausen syndrome is a mental disorder condition in which a person intentionally fakes, simulates, worsens, or self-induces an injury or illness for the main purpose of being treated like a medical patient.

Pleurisy is an infection and inflammation of the fluid-filled sac that lines the outside of the lungs and chest cavity. The infection can resolve on its own, be treated with antibiotics, or in serious cases, result in draining of the essential pleural fluid and the subsequent development of adhesions, which can make it painful and difficult to breathe.

Wrist pain causes include injury or disease, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive-motion injuries, sprains, strains, or fractures. Symptoms of a wrist injury include pain, swelling, warmth, dislocation, or deformity. Treatment for wrist pain is to treat the cause. Over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Home remedies for wrist pain relief include applying ice to the area.

X-Rays are a form of radiation used to image solid forms inside the body. X-rays are administered by radiologists for many different routine tests, such as mammograms, checking for broken bones, upper GI series, and dental exams, among others. Radiologists carefully monitor the X-ray equipment to make sure the patient receives the smallest dose of radiation possible.