Ricin: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Clinical Features== | ==Clinical Features== | ||
*First symptoms occur 3-12 hours after exposure | *First symptoms occur 3-12 hours after exposure | ||
*Acute lung injury | *Acute lung injury | ||
** | **Fever, cough, shortness of breath, and nausea | ||
*Death 36-48 hours after exposure | *Death 36-48 hours after exposure | ||
**Alveolar flooding, fibropurulent pneumonia, and necrotizing tracheitis | **Alveolar flooding, fibropurulent pneumonia, and necrotizing tracheitis | ||
| Line 16: | Line 14: | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
*Chest x-ray = bilateral infiltrates | *Chest x-ray = bilateral infiltrates ([[pulmonary edema]]) | ||
*Multi-organ failure occurred with a prominently elevated white blood cell count | |||
==Management== | ==Management== | ||
Revision as of 02:03, 10 June 2015
Background
- Found in castor beans from the plant Ricinus communis
- A residual product of the production of castor oil (if properly prepared, does not contain the toxin)
- Exposure can be parenteral, inhaled, or ingested
Clinical Features
- First symptoms occur 3-12 hours after exposure
- Acute lung injury
- Fever, cough, shortness of breath, and nausea
- Death 36-48 hours after exposure
- Alveolar flooding, fibropurulent pneumonia, and necrotizing tracheitis
Differential Diagnosis
Diagnosis
- Chest x-ray = bilateral infiltrates (pulmonary edema)
- Multi-organ failure occurred with a prominently elevated white blood cell count
Management
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
- Lutwick LI,Gradon J, Zellen J: Category B Biotoxins. In Lutwick LI, Lutwick SM (eds), Beyond Anthrax: Bioterror - The Weaponization of Infectious Diseases. Springer-Humana, New York, 2009, New York, pp. 181-206: