Radiation doses and Indications for Computed Tomography Scans among Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Medical imaging using CT is vital for diagnosing children, but it uses radiation that may increase long-term health risks due to their young age and sensitive bodies. In South Africa (SA), there are currently no national standards for how much radiation should be used for these scans. We conducted this study at a large hospital to audit our current practices and ensure we are keeping our youngest patients as safe as possible while still getting clear diagnostic images. We looked at 543 CT scans performed on children over a 3 year period. We specifically looked at the radiation doses used for the most common scans, such as brain scans, across different age groups. Our results showed that the radiation levels at our hospital are in line with both international safety standards and locally. We also noticed that scans performed afterhours use slightly higher radiation doses than those during the day. These results are encouraging because they show that our hospital is providing safe care that matches global benchmarks. However, the slightly higher doses during after-hours shifts suggest we should focus on more consistent training and standardized settings for all staff, regardless of when the scan is performed.