A set of rules has been developed by the Canadian researchers to reduce the computed tomography scans executed on children. As a number of children have to undergo CT scans after suffering minor head injuries which exposes them to potentially harmful ionizing radiation that can increase a child's lifetime fatal cancer risk.

One CT scan emits 300 to 600 times the radiation of a single chest X-ray which is really very harmful for health, particularly kids. As there are currently no nationally accepted, evidence-based rules which can help hospitals to decide which patient need a CT scan, many children may undergo the scan due to parental pressure or a doctor's desire to play it safe.

CT scans for minor head injury in children has increased to 53 per cent of the cases in 2005 from 15 per cent in 1995. This has become a trend in the medical community to expose them unnecessarily to levels of radiation that could increase their risk of developing cancer.

"We can't continue to CT scan more and more children, because it could result in a public health problem later on", said Martin Osmond, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.