Symptoms you are likely to notice Nausea , vomiting , and a general feeling of weakness follow the initial exposure to a heavy dose. The symptoms may then disappear for a time. Stages and progress More serious symptoms appear within days or weeks, depending on which organs were damaged. They may include abdominal pain, fever , diarrhea , dehydration , and possibly fatal shock when the digestive tract is involved. Damage to the bone marrow affects the blood .
Death can result from infection or uncontrolled bleeding.
A person whose skin has been exposed to radioactive dust particles should be thoroughly washed and rinsed until all the contaminants have been removed. In severe cases of radiation sickness, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants may be called for. Wearing a meter that measures cumulative radiation dosage can help protect individuals who work around radioactivity against overexposure. Careful handling of radioactive materials is essential. Fallout Nuclear accidents or bombs exploded in the atmosphere release various radioactive substances into the air.