Abstract
We evaluated the accuracy of information on acute radiation injury in atomic bomb survivors by comparing the information obtained from two surveys: one conducted by US-Japan Joint Commission in 1945-1946 (Survey A) and the other conducted by Nagasaki city office administrating self-reported questionnaire in 1960-1965 (Survey B). Information on name, age and place at the bombing identified 627 individuals who were in both surveys. The frequency of respective acute injuries observed in Survey A and Survey B was as follows: diarrhea—35% vs. 32%; vomiting—28% vs. 20%; fever—22% vs. 30%; stomatitis—20% vs. 13%; epilation—14% vs. 23%; gingival bleeding—12% vs. 18%; subcutaneous bleeding—12% vs. 16%; and nasal bleeding—3% vs. 9%. Epilation was kept best in memory by survivors; 74 % of those who had been identified epilation by Survey A also reported epilation in Survey B.
