radiation sickness

(noun) 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 sickness, radiation syndrome, radiation. Example: "He was suffering from radiation."