How is nerve agent poisoning diagnosed and treated?
Although blood tests for nerve agent exposures exist, doctors would use patient symptoms to recognize and treat nerve agent poisoning. Most people with mild poisoning will get better after leaving the contaminated area, but it may take hours. An antidote (medicine) exists that must be given to seriously ill people as soon as possible. People with mild sickness may not need treatment with the antidote. Persons experiencing serious illness from nerve agents may need to be hospitalized. Can exposure to nerve agents cause long-term problems? Most people who recover from a nerve agent exposure do not have long-term physical problems. Some victims of the Tokyo subway attack reported long-term mental and emotional problems. Where can more information about nerve agent poisoning be found? If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 or go to a local emergency department. For a suspected poisoning, contact the regional poison center (1-800-222-1222). More information about the health effec
