•Associated with
sepsis and opportunistic infections
•At 10 days could
develop bloody diarrhea resulting in
death
ARS - Gastrointestinal
System
Symptoms in this system are
regularly seen at acute doses greater than 600 rads and result from radiation
induced damage to the epithelial cells lining the small intestine.The higher the exposure, the sooner the symptoms
of nausea and vomiting develop.The
presence of these symptoms typically overlaps with the drop in cell count
described previously.As a result,
this can lead to loss of fluids, electrolytes and opportunistic infections
resulting in septicemia.Persistently
high fevers and bloody diarrhea are an ominous signs.Death occurs within 9-13 days.