Can you tell me what multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome is? My sister was told by her previous doctor that she had this condition but her new GP seemed to imply the condition does not exist. Who is right?
The difference in opinion is most probably due to the fact that the medical jury is still out when it comes to multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Also known as idiopathic environmental intolerance, the condition has been described as the recurrence of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to low levels of chemical substances in the environment. While some physicians and sufferers believe the condition is responsible for a broad range of symptoms, others dispute its existence due to the few consistent, measurable biological abnormalities found in sufferers. Others consider the condition to have a psychological rather than physical basis.
My sister says she gets a fast heart rate and feels sick when she smells certain household cleaners. Are these the only symptoms you can get with the condition?
Sufferers often report a wide range of diffuse symptoms including rapid heart rate (tachycardia), chest pain, nausea, vomiting, numbness and dizziness. Others complain of breathlessness, cough and hoarseness. Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, fatigue and depression have also been cited as symptoms of the syndrome. A wide range of chemicals, synthetic materials and fumes are often implicated by the sufferer.
So, does that mean it's an allergic reaction?
Diagnosis usually involves exclusion of allergies. Clinical history, skin patch testing and immune markers in the blood are used to try to determine the cause of the problem. With no objective assessments available to diagnose multiple chemical sensitivity, few patients exhibit classic immune responses seen in other allergic diseases.
There is, however, little doubt that for the individual, the syndrome can be disabling. Resistant to treatment with conventional allergy medications, patients often seek to avoid the substances thought to cause their problem. This can lead to exclusion from normal everyday life and psychological support may prove helpful in facilitating the patient to cope with their suffering.