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Multiple chemical sensitivities syndrome: toward a working case definition.

Nethercott JR; Davidoff LL; Curbow B; Abbey H

Arch Environ Health 1993 Jan; 48(1):19-26

https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1993.9938389

00214046

Major clinical diagnostic criteria for multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome were identified via a cross sectional survey of medical practitioners who had familiarity with the condition. The questionnaire, which listed 15 diagnostic criteria that had been proposed by groups interested in the syndrome, was sent to 148 physicians. The five criteria that were selected as major for diagnosing the syndrome by more than 50% of the 89 survey respondents included: the symptoms were reproducible with exposure; the condition was chronic; low levels of exposure resulted in manifestations of the syndrome; the symptoms resolved with removal of incitants; and the responses occurred to multiple, chemically unrelated substances. Odds ratios were calculated for comparisons among allergists, occupational physicians, and clinical ecologists. The majority of respondents in every physician group felt that chemical sensitivity should be accepted as a diagnostic category. The authors propose that the five major criteria accepted by the majority of survey respondents should be used provisionally as the basis for categorizing cases thought to involve multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome.

NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Training; Clinical-diagnosis; Environmental-health-monitoring; Diagnostic-techniques; Allergic-disorders; Chemical-hypersensitivity; Medical-personnel; Environmental-hazards; Immune-system-disorders

Environmental Health Sciences Johns Hopkins University 615 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205

AEHLAU

19930101

Journal Article

9038560.00

Grant

1993

Grant-Number-T15-OH-07090

1

0003-9896

Archives of Environmental Health

MD

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland