Syndrome resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., exposure to radioactive chemicals or to nuclear explosions); low doses cause diarrhea and nausea and vomiting and sometimes loss of hair; greater exposure can cause sterility and cataracts and some forms of cancer and other diseases; severe exposure can cause death within hours.

synonyms: radiation, radiation syndrome.

Dutch: stralingsziekte
Polish: choroba popromienna, choroba promienna