Assessment of Pediatric Exposure to Ionizing Radiation in Diagnostic Radiography: A Study at Diamniadio Children’s Hospital

Radiography, widely used for diagnostic purposes, represents a major source of exposure to ionizing radiation in children, a population particularly sensitive to the biological effects of radiation. Despite its widespread use, no study has previously assessed pediatric exposure to ionizing radiation in Senegal. This study was therefore conducted to measure and analyze exposure levels during routine radiographic examinations at the Diamniadio Children’s Hospital. A retrospective descriptive and analytical study was carried out from January 1 to June 30, 2022, within the radiology and medical biology departments. Demographic data and anatomical regions examined were collected from radiology registers. Data were entered using Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed with RStudio version 4.1.2. A total of 2820 children were included, with a median age of 4.35 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.58. The [0-5 years [and [5-10 years [age groups were the most represented, accounting for 53.2% and 30.5% of cases, respectively. Chest and lower limb radiographs were the most frequently performed examinations across all age groups, with a higher exposure frequency observed in boys. These findings indicate that children undergo a substantial number of radiographic examinations, which may increase stochastic radiation effects. Therefore, strict application of radiological protection principles by radiologists and referring physicians is essential.