MCS can be difficult for physicians to define and diagnose. Physicians should take a complete patient history that includes environmental and occupational exposures, carefully test for familial or exposure-related tendencies like porphyria, use brain and brain-function scans, and act as diligent detectives in diagnosing this condition. After the onset of MCS, a person's health generally continues to deteriorate. It may only begin to improve once the chemical sensitivity condition is uncovered. While a number of treatments may help improve the health of some patients, there is currently no "cure." In almost cases, avoidance of exposures can alleviate symptoms. No single test for MCS currently exists.
Avoiding the exposures that trigger reactions is essential, and may permit dramatic improvement. Yet the large number of new and untested synthetic chemicals we encounter in our daily lives makes this extremely difficult.
Individuals affected by MCS have created "sanctuaries" relatively free from chemical emissions and electromagnetic fields in their homes. Because of the serious impact of even an accidental unavoidable exposure, people often spend as much time at home as possible and often cannot participate fully in society. As a result, they may experience intense isolation, loss of self-esteem, and depression from not being able to have an active work, family, or social life. Supportive professional and peer counseling can help, if available.

Many conventional allergists and other physicians claim that there is not yet sufficient evidence that MCS exists. Research regarding the mechanisms that cause MCS has been inadequate, and unfortunately is often financed by the industries that benefit from chemical proliferation. Generally, medical doctors have not been trained to understand or seriously investigate conditions such as MCS. In fact, the vast majority of physicians receive very little training (four hours or less) in occupational and environmental medicine or in toxicology and nutrition.
Therefore, many affected individuals have to consult with a large number of specialists. People with MCS are sometimes misdiagnosed with serious degenerative diseases. Often, baffled doctors tell patients that their illness is psychosomatic...in their heads. And many whose health is impaired by MCS have never heard of the condition. The lack of support from physicians, and the stress caused by having no explanation for symptoms, may contribute to a high level of anxiety and distress for people with MCS.
Conventional medicine offers very few medical treatments for MCS besides avoiding offending products. Unfortunately, medications and other conventional medical treatments offer little or no relief, and may even prompt new sets of symptoms. Treatment with antidepressants may mask the underlying condition and can also cause other serious health problems.

Physicians who clearly recognize MCS include some occupational and environmental health specialists. A wide range of new or "alternative" treatments has been utilized by people with MCS with varying success. Some of these treatments are experimental and may include a combination of: nutritional programs, immunotherapy vaccines, food-allergy testing, detoxification regimens through exercise and saunas, chelation for heavy metals, and other healing treatments. Diagnosis may involve laboratory tests for chemical contaminants, such as total body burden of pesticides, or for porphyria, respiratory and brain function.
Unfortunately, these treatments and diagnostic workups are not often reimbursed by insurance plans. Few practitioners or medical insurance programs for people who are indigent support these alternative, yet sometimes productive approaches. Some disabled workers have won reimbursement for such care through Workers Compensation claims.

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