<P> Similar symptoms may appear months to years after exposure as chronic radiation syndrome when the dose rate is too low to cause the acute form . Radiation exposure can also increase the probability of developing some other diseases, mainly different types of cancers . These diseases are sometimes referred to as radiation sickness, but they are never included in the term acute radiation syndrome . </P> <P> Classically acute radiation syndrome is divided into three main presentations: hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, and neurological / vascular . These syndromes may or may not be preceded by a prodrome . The speed of onset of symptoms is related to radiation exposure, with greater doses resulting in a shorter delay in symptom onset . These presentations presume whole - body exposure and many of them are markers which are not valid if the entire body has not been exposed . Each syndrome requires that the tissue showing the syndrome itself be exposed . The hematopoietic syndrome requires exposure of the areas of bone marrow actively forming blood elements (i.e., the pelvis and sternum in adults). The neurovascular symptoms require exposure of the brain . The gastrointestinal syndrome is not seen if the stomach and intestines are not exposed to radiation . Some areas affected are: </P> <Ol> <Li> Hematopoietic . This syndrome is marked by a drop in the number of blood cells, called aplastic anemia . This may result in infections due to a low amount of white blood cells, bleeding due to a lack of platelets, and anemia due to few red blood cells in the circulation . These changes can be detected by blood tests after receiving a whole - body acute dose as low as 0.25 grays (25 rad), though they might never be felt by the patient if the dose is below 1 gray (100 rad). Conventional trauma and burns resulting from a bomb blast are complicated by the poor wound healing caused by hematopoietic syndrome, increasing mortality . </Li> <Li> Gastrointestinal . This syndrome often follows absorbed doses of 6--30 grays (600--3,000 rad). The signs and symptoms of this form of radiation injury include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain . Vomiting in this time - frame is a marker for whole body exposures that are in the fatal range above 4 grays (400 rad). Without exotic treatment such as bone marrow transplant, death with this dose is common . The death is generally more due to infection than gastrointestinal dysfunction . </Li> <Li> Neurovascular . This syndrome typically occurs at absorbed doses greater than 30 grays (3,000 rad), though it may occur at 10 grays (1,000 rad). It presents with neurological symptoms such as dizziness, headache, or decreased level of consciousness, occurring within minutes to a few hours, and with an absence of vomiting . It is invariably fatal . </Li> </Ol> <Li> Hematopoietic . This syndrome is marked by a drop in the number of blood cells, called aplastic anemia . This may result in infections due to a low amount of white blood cells, bleeding due to a lack of platelets, and anemia due to few red blood cells in the circulation . These changes can be detected by blood tests after receiving a whole - body acute dose as low as 0.25 grays (25 rad), though they might never be felt by the patient if the dose is below 1 gray (100 rad). Conventional trauma and burns resulting from a bomb blast are complicated by the poor wound healing caused by hematopoietic syndrome, increasing mortality . </Li>

How long can you live with radiation poisoning