What are the progressive symptoms of radiation poisoning?

Question

If a radioactive cloud drifted (spread) from the point of detonation to a place 5,000 miles away, how long after continuous exposure began would people start to feel sick, and how long would they survive before succoming to radiation poisioning?

P.S. Just saw the movie "On The Beach"

Answer 1

It depends on the amount of radiation exposure but generally it follows this pattern:

1. Flu-like symptoms: nausea, headache, fatigue.

2. There may be a period that the symptoms disappear and you actually feel better.

3. Flu-like symptoms return + diarrhea, blood in vomit and stool, loss of hair, open sores and apparent "burns" (blisters), dizziness, high fever, low blood pressure and eventually the organs begin to shut down leading to death.