What are the symptoms of nerve agents?

Nerve agents are a highly toxic class of chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, leading to an accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve endings. The symptoms associated with exposure to nerve agents are primarily due to overstimulation of the muscles and glands innervated by the nervous system.

Tightness in the chest and pinpoint pupils are hallmark signs of nerve agent exposure. The tightness in the chest occurs because of bronchoconstriction, which can lead to difficulty breathing, while pinpoint pupils (miosis) result from excessive stimulation of the pupil-constricting muscles in the eye. These symptoms are critical indicators used in identifying nerve agent poisoning in affected individuals.

Other potential symptoms associated with nerve agents can include excessive salivation, sweating, involuntary muscle twitching, and convulsions, all signs of the disrupted neuromuscular transmission. In contrast, the other choices describe symptoms that are more characteristic of different types of exposures or medical conditions, which do not specifically correspond to the distinct effects of nerve agents.