Question

When the patient is receiving radioactive iodine what precautions are most important?

a) Use shared utensils
b) Avoid close contact with pregnant women
c) Consume iodine-rich foods
d) Increase sun exposure

Answer 1

While receiving radioactive iodine, the patient should avoid close contact with pregnant women, not use shared utensils, and refrain from consuming additional iodine-rich foods to ensure effective treatment and minimal radiation exposure to others.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the patient is receiving radioactive iodine, the most important precautions include avoiding close contact with pregnant women, maintaining distance from others, and practicing good hygiene to minimize the spread of radioactive material. It is not advisable to use shared utensils or increase sun exposure as these actions do not significantly affect radiation precautions.

Consuming iodine-rich foods is also not recommended since the thyroid gland may uptake additional iodine interfering with the treatment. Radiation protection measures stress the importance of spending the least possible time in a radiation environment keeping distance from the radiation source and using sufficient shielding.