CHAPTER 2
CLINICAL EXAMINATION
2.1
PREVIOUS FINDINGS
Within hours of exposure to radiation, approximately two-thirds of the Rongelap people
felt nauseated and one-tenth of the group had vomiting and diarrhea. One Ailinginae individual
reported nausea. Itching and burning of the skin and eyes during this period occurred in over
one-quarter of the Rongelap residents and in a smaller numberof the Ailinginae population.
With the exception of skin lesions and epilation reported in Chap. 3, there were no further
symptoms nor findings on physical examination that could be attributed with certainty to radiation exposure. All individuals were normally active throughout the period of observation. The
various clinical conditions encountered in the highest exposed Rongelap and Ailinginae groups
were not remarkably different in type or extent from those seen in the least exposed Utirik
group. Although a number of individuals were markedly neutropenic, no infections attributable
to neutropenia per se were observed. No external evidence of hemorrhage was observed,al-
though platelet counts in 20 per cent of the Rongelap group fell to 90,000/mm!or lowerat the
time of maximum depression, Antibiotics were used in a few individuals where indicated for
incidental infections. However, no prophylactic or therapeutic drugs were necessary or given
because of whole-body radiation exposure alone.
2.2
PROCEDURES
The following procedures were carried out routinely on both exposed and control groups:
(1) brief past history,* (2) complete interval history, (3) skin examination (including biopsies
and photographs in selected cases), (4) complete physical examination (including ophthalmoscopic, rectal, and pelvic examinations), (5) chest X-ray, and (6) hematological studies (including bone marrow aspirations in selected cases). Serology was done on someof the exposed
individuals. Special measurements were taken on children to provide a base line for future
growth and development studies.
2.3
CLINICAL FINDINGS
Past histories revealed little of note, with the exception of a high incidence of yaws (ex-
posed group, 23; control group, 17) and gonorrhea (exposed group, 21; control group, 19). One
* Interval and past histories were taken by Dr. John Iaman, a Gilbertese physician who
spoke excellent English as well as Marshallese. English-speaking Marshallese nurses aided
in the physical examinations.
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