Ricin Exposure: Symptoms, Risks, and What to Do

The symptoms of ricin exposure can vary depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the amount of ricin that has entered the body. The following are some of the general symptoms of ricin exposure:

- Inhalation:

- Difficulty breathing

- Cough

- Wheezing

- Fever

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Diarrhea

- Rapid heart rate

- Low blood pressure

- Seizures

- Respiratory failure

- Ingestion:

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Diarrhea

- Abdominal pain

- Bloody stools

- Dehydration

- Electrolyte imbalances

- Organ damage (e.g., kidney failure, liver damage)

- Seizures

- Coma

- Injection:

- Pain and swelling at the site of injection

- Fever

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Diarrhea

- Rapid heart rate

- Low blood pressure

- Seizures

- Organ damage

- Death

In severe cases, ricin exposure can lead to death within a few days. There is no specific antidote for ricin poisoning, and treatment is supportive.