Highly toxic nerve gas that can cause death within seconds following exposure is?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Sarin is a potent, man-made organophosphate compound classified as a nerve agent.
It acts by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme crucial for breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
This inhibition leads to a cholinergic crisis, characterized by overstimulation of the nervous system.
The most lethal effect is respiratory failure due to paralysis of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles, which can cause death within minutes.

Option B: Furin is a naturally occurring enzyme (a protease) in the human body responsible for processing proteins. It is not an external toxin or nerve gas.
Option C: Dioxin is a persistent environmental pollutant. While highly toxic and carcinogenic, its effects are chronic and develop over a long period, not causing immediate death like a nerve gas.
Option D: Metformin is a widely used oral medication for managing type 2 diabetes. It is a therapeutic drug, not a chemical weapon or a highly toxic poison.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Toxicology and Chemical Agents helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
In a mass casualty incident involving a chemical attack, nurses must rapidly identify signs of nerve agent poisoning (e.g., miosis, seizures, respiratory distress) to initiate life-saving measures.
Immediate nursing priorities include personal protection (PPE), patient decontamination to prevent further exposure, airway management, and administration of antidotes like atropine and pralidoxime per protocol.
What if? If the patient was exposed to a vesicant (blister agent) like mustard gas instead of a nerve agent, the priority would shift. There is no specific antidote for mustard gas, so care would focus on immediate, copious irrigation of skin and eyes, pain management, and wound care for chemical burns, rather than managing a cholinergic crisis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concepts in the question stem: 'highly toxic nerve gas' and 'death within seconds'. This points to a rapidly acting chemical weapon.
Next, evaluate each option based on this requirement.
Recall or deduce the nature of each substance. Sarin is a well-known nerve agent.
Eliminate the other options by categorizing them. Furin is a biological enzyme, Dioxin is an environmental pollutant with chronic effects, and Metformin is a common diabetes medication.
This process of elimination leaves Sarin as the only plausible answer that fits the description of a highly lethal, fast-acting nerve gas.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 2260-2262

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