injuries poisoning
Pulmonary Chemical Warfare Agents
Symptoms and Signs of Pulmonary Chemical Warfare Injuries
Type 1 agentsinitially cause sneezing, coughing, and laryngospasm (eye irritation can also occur). Patients with airway obstruction have hoarseness, wheezing, and inspiratory stridor. With a high dose of a type 1 agent, chest tightness or shortness of breath may subsequently develop as a herald of pulmonary edema. Withtype 2 agents,symptoms and signs are usually delayed several hours following exposure. Patients initially complain of chest tightness or shortness of breath. Physical findings may be minimal except for rare expiratory crackles and dullness to percussion. Time of onset is shorter with higher doses; development of dyspnea within 4 hours of exposure suggests a potentially lethal dose. 