Acute radiation syndrome is a series of acute symptoms that occur when people are exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation for a short period of time.
When the body receives high quality ionizing radiation, the body’s performance can be divided into prodromal symptoms and typical symptoms.
1. Prodromal symptoms: Prodromal symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, headache and neurological damage.
Depending on the amount of radiation absorbed, neurological symptoms may include cognitive impairment, confusion, ataxia, convulsions, tremors and coma.
2. Typical symptoms: As the amount of radiation absorbed increases, the accompanying symptoms become more prominent.
Acute radiation syndrome affects the blood system, including leukopenia, purpura hemorrhage, and infection. High fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders and shock may also occur and can be life-threatening in severe cases.
When acute radiation syndrome is suspected, immediate medical attention should be sought to avoid delays in treatment.