Public Health Emergency Preparedness
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Table 6.3. Initial or Prodromal Phase, Whole Body Irradiation From External Radiation or Internal Absorption (Gamma Radiation)
| Symptom |
Subclinical range (cGy [rad]) |
Sublethal range(cGy [rad]) |
Lethal range(cGy [rad]) |
| 0-100 |
100-200 |
200-600 |
600-800 |
800-3000 |
>3000 |
| Vomiting (onset and percentage) |
None |
3-6 hr
5%-50% |
2-4 hr
50%-100% |
1-2 hr
75%-100% |
<1 hr
90%-100% |
<1 hr
100% |
| Nausea duration |
|
<24 hr |
<24 hr |
<48 hr |
<48 hr |
<48 hr |
| Diarrhea (severity, onset, and percentage) |
|
|
Moderate
3-8 hr
< 10% |
Severe
1-3 hr
> 10% |
Severe
< 3 hr
> 10% |
Very severe
< 1 hr
100% |
| Lymphocyte count (× 106/L)a |
Unaffected |
Minimally decreased within normal range |
2000-1000 at 24 hr |
1000-800 at 24 hr |
<1000 at 24 hr |
Decreases with hours |
Headache, (severity, onset, and percentage)
|
|
Slight |
Mild to moderate
4-24 hr
< 50% |
Severe
3-4 hr
< 80% |
Severe
< 4 hr
> 80% |
| Central nervous system (CNS) function |
No impairment |
No impairment |
Routine task performance; cognitive impairment for 6-20 hr |
Simple and routine task performance; cognitive impairment for >24
hr |
Progressive incapacitation |
| Body temperature (severity, onset, and percentage) |
|
Normal |
Increased and fever
< 3 hr
10%-100% |
High fever
< 1 hr
100% |
a Normal range 1400-3500 × 106/L
Source: Adapted from other resources (Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, 2003; International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Diagnosis and Treatment of Radiation Injuries. Safety Reports, Series 2. IAEA, Vienna, Austria; 1998); used with permission.
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