title: [The spectrum of symptoms associated with biological warfare].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are hundreds of potential agents that could be used in biological warfare or bioterrorism: bacteria, viruses and toxins. There are no similarities between clinical presentations of organisms or toxins belonging to specific microbial families. Therefore, it is important for the physician, required to cope with an unusual disease or outbreak among his patients, to become familiar with the various symptoms that victims of biological warfare or bioterrorism may present.
  
  
  METHODS
  To describe the six most common groups of symptoms expected in the above setting. The most common symptoms will be described as they appear in nature, because of a fortunate lack of experience with the majority of these agents in biological warfare. Hence, variations of these presentations may be possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The six most common presentations reviewed are: 1) respiratory tract symptoms; 2) hemorrhagic fevers; 3) meningitis and encephalitis; 4) flaccid paralyses; 5) fever syndromes with rash; and 6) diarrheal syndromes. Additional presentations may be possible due to alterations made in these organisms or development of new agents and mixtures. A list is provided of features that may alert a physician of the possibility of biological warfare or bioterrorism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the principal clinical presentations of victims of biological warfare or bioterrorism is essential to all physicians. This knowledge may contribute to the early recognition of a cluster of patients, an epidemic, an unusual disease, or biological warfare; quick referral to the emergency department, leading to early microbiological diagnosis; and rapid notification of the Ministry of Health. All these, and the institution of appropriate measures, will ultimately contribute to the survival of individual patients and at-risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, Israel.
authors.forename: Amos M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yinnon
authors.forename: Lior H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robenshtok
authors.forename: Yechiel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raveh
mesh_terms: D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000145:classification* / Q000517:prevention & control; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000145:classification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology