History
A history of exposure to an aerosolized substance that resulted in ophthalmic and pulmonary irritation and then progressed to nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headache suggests exposure to a vomiting agent. In the early phases of an emergency response, the toxin's identity would be unknown and the history misleading and inaccurate.
Fear, anxiety, and mistrust are likely to affect victims, emergency responders, bystanders, and the entire community after such an incident. Overwhelming emotions in some patients, rescuers, and hospital staff are likely to cause acute anxiety reactions and mass psychogenic illness. Patients truly suffering from vomiting-agent poisoning and those suffering from mass psychogenic illness would be difficult to separate, because the symptoms are similar. Patients with either condition may complain of the following:
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
-
Diarrhea
-
Abdominal cramping
-
Headache
-
Tearing
-
Dizziness
-
Chest tightness
-
Shortness of breath
Because differentiating mass hysteria from a true vomiting-agent poisoning may be difficult, treat all patients experiencing symptoms as true toxic emergencies. The potential exists for patients with mass psychogenic illness to overwhelm the entire emergency response system and hinder timely treatment of those with true toxic emergencies.
Physical
The signs and symptoms encountered in a person exposed to a vomiting agent may vary. Factors that determine clinical effects include the amount of the agent encountered and the route of exposure. Depending on those variables, the progression of signs and symptoms can range from mild mucosal irritation to cardiovascular collapse and death. The following list constitutes findings that may be noted on physical examination following exposure to vomiting agents:
-
Eye - Conjunctival injection, tearing, and blepharospasm
-
Nose - Excessive nasal discharge, sneezing, mucosal injection, and edema
-
Throat - Mucosal injection and edema
-
Lungs - Excessive cough, wheezing, rhonchi, prolonged expiratory phase, and tachypnea
-
Heart - Tachycardia
-
Abdomen - Hyperactive bowel sounds, intestinal cramps, emesis, and diarrhea
-
Skin - Erythema and edema at the site of dermal contact
-
Mental status - Central nervous system depression, syncope, and death (possible with significant exposure)
Causes
Human exposures to vomiting agents rarely have been reported. Potential causes of exposure to these agents are laboratory accidents, terrorist events, or military conflicts.
