Tricothecenes represents a family of sesquiterpenoid compounds produced by a variety of fungi. T-2 toxin and other members have been developed and used as a bioweapon. Stahl et al described the clinical findings following such an attack.
Duration
Stage
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
3 - 9 days
I
chemical burn on skin or mucous membranes
headache, dizziness
weakness
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
fever, sweating (diaphoresis)
tachycardia
cyanosis
2 - 4 weeks
II
pancytopenia with lymphocytosis
headache
fatigue, vertigo
petechiae
variable
III
necrotic lesions of skin and mucous membranes
petechiae and mucosal hemorrhages
gastrointestinal bleeding
lymphadenopathy
infection and/or sepsis
death
3 - 12 weeks (if alive)
IV
resolution of skin and hematologic lesions
complications of infection
The chemical burns and necrotic lesions occur where the released compound comes in contact with the victim. This would be absent in an environmental exposure.
The clinical syndrome was likened to that of acute radiation poisoning.
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