Diseases

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

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Multiple chemical sensitivity. Multiple chemical sensitivity (mcs), also known as idiopathic environmental intolerances (iei), is a disputed chronic condition characterized by symptoms that the affected person attributes to low-level exposures to commonly used chemicals.

SYMPTOMS

Difficulty breathing, pains in the throat, chest, or abdominal region, skin irritation, headaches, neurological symptoms (nerve pain, pins and needles feelings, weakness, trembling, restless leg syndrome), tendonitis, seizures, visual disturbances (blurring, halo effect, inability to focus), anxiety, panic and/or anger, sleep disturbance, suppression of immune system, digestive difficulties, nausea, indigestion/heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pains, vertigo/dizziness, abnormally acute sense of smell (hyperosmia)

CAUSES

Mcs because many substances used to test for sensitivity have a strong odor
There is no clear consensus for the cause or causes of the symptoms of mcs. A 2007 national institute of environmental health sciences paper defined mcs as a "chronic, recurring disease caused by a person's inability to tolerate an environmental chemical or class of foreign chemicals