Can trichothecene mycotoxin exposure occur naturally?
Yes. This usually occurs when contaminated foods, such as moldy grain, are eaten. What are the symptoms of trichothecene mycotoxin exposure? After exposure early symptoms begin within 5 to 60 minutes. Symptoms are dependant on the route of exposure. Inhalational exposure results in nasal itching, pain, sneezing, bloody and runny nose, difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and blood-tinged saliva and sputum. Exposure through ingestion causes loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramping, and watery and/or bloody diarrhea. Skin symptoms include burning, tender and reddened skin, swelling, and blistering progressing to death of skin tissues and, in lethal cases, sloughing of large areas of skin. After exposure to the eyes, pain, tearing, redness, and blurred vision occur. Exposure through any route can lead to full body illness, the symptoms of which include weakness, fatigue, dizziness, lack of muscular coordination, irregular heartbeat, hyperthermia or hypothermia, extensive
