Head CT scan on 5 year old - how risky is it?

[AngryFeet]

Ds had a minor head injury this week and the doctor decided he needed a ct after weighing up the pros and cons. After reading on the net I am now concerned about the radiation he has received from it and cancer risk in the future. It seems pretty high for kids :(

I have never heard of that- DD hasn't had a CT but has had two MRIs-one at two weeks old. She had to have a general anaesthetic for the second one.

She also has regular xrays and I think it would be great not to have to but its what has to happen. Try not to worry, it was something that was deemed necessary at the time. Is he ok now from the head injury? FWIW whenever my DD has any kind of health scare or illness I worry about everything after and get anxious.

I wouldn't worry about it. He needed the scan they wouldn't have done it otherwise. No point worrying about things out of your control.

Googling things like that is never a good idea!

When I say I have never heard of it btw I have never looked-I tend not to now as have got myself into a state in the past.

I know there is nothing can be done now. I tend to be anxious about health anyway. The doctor said he could be monitored over 24 hours but then changed his mind. I suppose I feel bad that I could have said no to the ct but I was worried as he was being sick lots and was dozy and I didn't want to risk it. The ct showed nothing so technically pointless. Well not really but you know what I mean.

Think of it this way - the risk of an undiagnosed head injury is much higher than that of one CT scan!!

It is as Sirzy said - the doctor considered the seriousness of an undiagnosed and hence untreated head injury and on that basis went ahead with the scan. Still, the exposure due to a scan is very very low. The probability that it causes cancer later in life is very very low.

Try not too worry about it. One: it is too late anyway and two: you have done the best you could to protect your child by following the doctor's advice.