The acute radiation syndrome

The pattern of symptoms in 189 patients irradiated with a large single dose to one half of the body are described. Radiation sickness developed in 83 and 39% of upper half-body irradiation and lower half-body irradiation treatments respectively and the incidence was not reduced by sedatives or anti-emetics. Following treatment there was a latent period up to 90 min before a phase of acute upset and nausea and vomiting started. This phase persisted for about 6 h with an average of six bouts of vomiting and was then followed by recovery. (author)