What are symptoms of nerve agent exposure?

What are symptoms of nerve agent exposure?

Regardless of the route of exposure, nerve agents can cause the following characteristic effects:

• pinpoint pupils of the eye.
• excessive production of mucous, tears, saliva and sweat.
• headache.
• stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
• chest tightness and shortness of breath.
• loss of bladder and bowel control.
• muscle twitching.

What is nerve agent exposure?

Some Veterans may have been exposed to nerve agents during a combat or terrorist situation. The nerve agent—in gas, aerosol or liquid form—enters the body through inhalation or the skin, and interferes with the nervous system.

What does a nerve agent do?

Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.

What are nerve agents and how do they work?

The chemicals work by disrupting the central nervous system. The body uses a molecule called acetylcholine to send messages between cells – when an acetylcholine molecule “arrives”, it causes an electrical impulse to be sent.

What is nerve gas exposure?

Nerve gas causes poisoning by damaging nerves that help you breathe, move, and digest food. Nerve gas is a chemical found in pesticides. You may be exposed to nerve gas by breathing the fumes or getting it on your skin. This may happen during an accidental spill or intentional release to cause harm.

What are nerve toxins?

Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insults that can adversely affect function in both developing and mature nervous tissue.

What is a nerve agent and how does it work?

Nerve agents are highly poisonous chemicals that work by preventing the nervous system from working properly.