Exposure to nerve agents commonly results in what type of poisoning due to acetylcholinesterase inhibition?

• A. Arsenic poisoning
• B. Organophosphate poisoning
• C. Cyanide poisoning
• D. Mercury poisoning

Answer: (B)

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition causes a buildup of acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses, leading to overstimulation of muscarinic, nicotinic, and central receptors—a cholinergic crisis. Nerve agents are organophosphates that irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase, so exposure produces an organophosphate-type poisoning with rapid, widespread cholinergic effects. Expect symptoms like excess secretions, sweating, salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI upset, bronchorrhea and bronchospasm, miosis, bradycardia, muscle fasciculations, weakness, and possible seizures. Other listed poisons act through different mechanisms (arsenic disrupts cellular metabolism, cyanide blocks cellular respiration, mercury interferes with sulfhydryl groups) and don’t cause this AChE-inhibition cholinergic picture.