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Thousands of Kenyans are being exposed to dangerous radiation through unnecessary chest X-ray tests, radiology experts at the University of Nairobi have said.
The experts say results of tests carried out in four major X-ray centres in Nairobi to detect tuberculosis indicated that the examinations had no value, were expensive and exposed patients to unnecessary radiation.
Led by Dr Ndii Muriuki, the three-man team analysed 402 chest X-rays ordered especially for healthy people wanting to migrate out of the country, pre-employment or joining colleges and only one test returned a positive result for TB.
At about Sh1,500 per test and exposure to radiation that increases the risk of cancer, Ndii and his team say the test is unnecessary and should be discontinued.
The team, in their findings published in The East African Journal, says since radiation accumulates in the human body at every successive exposure, X-rays should be kept to the barest minimum.
“No one should be exposed to the tiniest dose of radiation unless it is absolutely necessary,” says Ndii of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine, University of Nairobi, in the journal.
The study was done at radiology departments of Kenyatta National Hospital, University of Nairobi, Nairobi Hospital and at Plaza Imaging Solutions, a private practice in Nairobi.
The other researchers were Dr Nelson Kimani and CK Onyambu.
A number of Western European and North American countries require that individuals migrating to their countries from areas with high prevalence of TB be X-rayed to prove absence of the diseases.
Insurers also require the examination for policy takers, while some employers deem it necessary for their workers be routinely checked for TB.
This, the team says exposes, a huge number of Kenyans to unnecessary radiation, which they say is not an effective way of TB diagnosis and could be missing many positive cases.
“In that case it gives those who require the test done and those it is carried out on a sense of false security,” say Ndii. He recommends other routine tests be done first to establish presence of TB before radiation is introduced.
The study found out people between 13 and 34 years had the most radiographs - a total of 265 out of the 402 people - about 66 per cent of the sample. This, Ndii said, was worrying because people who fall in this age bracket may need to undergo other X-ray sessions in future, hence more exposure.
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