How is soman exposure diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on history of exposure, clinical signs and symptoms, and confirmatory laboratory tests. Signs and symptoms of soman exposure include visual disturbance, runny nose, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions. How is exposure to soman treated? Treatment consists of decontamination; drugs such as atropine, pralidoxime chloride, and diazepam; ventilation to support respiratory function; and supportive care. Contaminated clothing must be removed, bagged, and sealed. Decontaminate skin by washing it with large amounts of soap and water. Secondary exposure can occur from contact with contaminated clothing; it can also occur when soman evaporates from contaminated clothing. To protect health care workers and others exposed to a contaminated victim from secondary contamination, remove, bag, and seal the victim s clothing, and wash the victim s skin with large amounts of soap and water. For more information on soman, visit the CDC Web site www.bt.cdc.gov. VX VX is a n
