Citation

Rice P. Medicine (Abingdon) 2012; 40(2): 82-83.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Medicine Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.mpmed.2011.11.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sulphur mustard is a powerful vesicant (blistering agent) which was used extensively in World War I and in the Iran-Iraq conflict (1984-1987). In addition to causing characteristic blistering burns to the skin, exposure may also result in severe conjuctivitis, ulcerative necrosis throughout the respiratory tract and systemic toxicity including bone marrow suppression. There is no specific therapy for sulphur mustard poisoning, but procedures such as laser debridement of established burns have been shown to increase the rate of burn resolution in animal models and may, therefore, be of benefit clinically.