injuries and poisoning
Toxins as Weapons
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B
. Staphylococcal Food Poisoning is responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning when ingested. Mass casualties could result from deliberate contamination of food but also from inhalation of an aerosol form of the toxin. Symptoms typically occur 1 to 12 hours after ingestion and 2 to 12 hours (with a range of 1.5 to 24 hours) after inhalation. After initial flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches, subsequent symptoms depend on the route of exposure. Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 1 to 2 days. Inhalation causes cough, chest pain, and often nasal irritation and congestion. Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) can result from contact of the aerosol with the eyes. Inhalation can rarely cause death. In survivors, fever may persist up to 5 days and cough for 4 weeks. Special laboratory tests may help doctors confirm the diagnosis. Doctors aim treatment efforts at relieving the person's symptoms. No specific antidote or antitoxin is available. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. 