Vesicants and nerve agents in chemical warfare. Decontamination and treatment strategies for a changed world.
Vesicants and nerve agents have been used in chemical warfare for ages. They remain a threat in today's altered political climate because they are relatively simple to produce, transport, and deploy. Vesicants, such as mustard and lewisite, can affect the skin, eyes, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal system. They leave affected persons at risk for long-term effects. Nerve agents, such as tabun, sarin, soman, and VX, hyperstimulate the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors of the nervous system. Physicians need to familiarize themselves with the clinical findings of such exposures and the decontamination and treatment strategies necessary to minimize injuries and deaths.
Devereaux
Asha
A
Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine Division, Department of Internal Medicine, National Naval Medical Center, 36800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Diego, CA 92134, USA. adevereaux@pol.net
Amundson
Dennis E
DE
Parrish
J S
JS
Lazarus
Angeline A
AA
D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012524:Sarin / Q000009:adverse effects; D012999:Soman / Q000009:adverse effects
D000931:Antidotes; D001152:Arsenicals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007509:Irritants; D009151:Mustard Gas; D010755:Organophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D012524:Sarin; D012999:Soman; C035965:lewisite; C009680:VX-agent; C009374:tabun