the 27th and 32nd post-exposure days. During the period in which individuals were developing
symptoms of the respiratory infection, the leukocyte count of some diverged romthe population trend. Fifty-two per cent of the leukocyte counts were observed to increase to higher
levels, the Increase being due primarily to granulocytes (see chapter 4). Sinee the increase in
the mean granulocyte count of (he entire population occurred about the time the epidemic of URI
developed, if seemed pertinent to determine whether in individual instances the terease was
spontaneous or was in some way related to the presence of respiratory infection. ‘The relation-
ship between the observed leukocyte increase and the presence or absence of upper resptraftory
symptoms in the individuals exposed to radiation sugpested that the two effects were unrelated.
Toble vot
DISEASES THAT APPEARED DURING OBSERVATION
OF CPE RONGELAP AND ALLINGINAE GROUPS
Disease
Number of
i
Individuals
[!
Number of
Disense
:
ludivecials
Furuncle (boils)
~
|
Bronchitis
{
Gum Abscess
Cholecystitis
|
|
i
Apyetous uleer of tongue
(canker sore)
I
l
(inflammation of
gull bladder)
Tinea Cringworm)
t
Spondylolisthesis
(malformation of
vertebra)
Mittelschmerz
I
Impetigo
!
Tooth extractions
Gastroente riti(inflamation of stomach
Gntermenstrual pain)
Generalized urticaria
(hives)
Kryvthema multiforme
(red rash)
Migraine headache
1
and intestines)
Upper respiratory infection.
Follicular tonsillitis
1
a
2
10
AT
|
Of the 64 individuals from Rongelap, 27 had no respiratory infection and of these 13 (48 per
cent) without URI showed a rise in leukocytes; 37 had the infection, and of these, 24 (53 per
cent) showed a rise; 7 of these 24 showed a rise three or more days before symptonis appeared. Of the 18 from Ailinginae, 8 had no respiratory infection and 3 (37 per cent) of these
showed a rise; 10 had the infection, of these, 3 (33 per cent) showed a rise in count.
It is also of interest that not only the irradiated individuals developed the respiratory infection but in addition the medical personnel involved in their care and study also developed
equally severe respiratory infections. The respiratory infections consisted of moderate maluise, sore throat with prominent lymphoid follicles, pharyngitis, moderate fever on the first
day, and a purulent (pus) nasal and tracheal discharge for 10 days.
2.5 COMPARISON WITH THE UTIRIK GROUP OF DISEASES SEEN IN THE RONGELAP AND
ALLINGINAE GROUPS DURING THE PERIOD OF OBSERVATION
The diseases that were seen in the Rongelap and Ailinginae groups during the period of
observation are-listed in Table 2.1. None of these appeared to be related to the effects of ir-
radiation, either directly or as a result of the hematologic disturbances. For comparison, the
diseases that were seen in the Utirik group during the period of observation arelisted in Table
2.2. The high incidence of gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stornach and intestines) in both
groups was probably due to the Marshallese keeping perishable foods unrefrigerated for long
periods, and was not seen after this practice was stopped. It would appear that a higher percentage of the Rongelap-Ailinginae group developed upper respiratory infections compared to
the Utirik group. However, all of the Rongelap-Ailinginae group were questioned concerning
even miJd symptoms of URI, whereas only those of the Utirik group with severe symptoms of
29