Behavioural Signs and Symptoms | Physical Signs and Symptoms | Triggers"
The "Body Burden" Concept

Environmental Sensitivities Many common things can cause adverse reactions. Avoidance is the best treatment.

A growing segment of the population experiences a variety of adverse reactions to environmental agents at levels well below those that might be deemed to affect average persons. This atypical reactivity is called environmental sensitivities. Subsections of environmental sensitivities include labels descriptive of the site of the reaction such as "asthma" (lungs), the mechanism of the reaction such as "allergy", or the causative agents such as "multiple chemical sensitivities" or "electromagnetic sensitivity". The medical profession refers to this condition as environmental hypersensitivity disorder (EHD).

Environmental hypersensitivity has been defined as:

"... a chronic (i.e., continuing for more than three months) multisystem disorder, usually involving symptoms of the central nervous system and at least one other system. Affected persons are frequently intolerant to some foods and they react adversely to some chemicals and to environmental agents, singly or in combination, at levels generally tolerated by the majority.... Improvement is associated with avoidance of suspected agents and symptoms recur with re-exposure."10

• Agents, either naturally occurring or synthetic, in our air, water, food, personal and home care products, fabrics, furnishings; hospital, school and office equipment, office supplies and building materials; chemicals used or stored in the home, health care facilities, schools, workplaces, farms or industries and public transportation vehicles; pollens (grass, trees, plants, weeds), dusts, molds and animal danders.

• Artificial lighting and electromagnetic fields.

Chemical sensitivities can develop in individuals of any age regardless of whether they have a past history of allergies. The severity of symptoms can range from mild discomfort to total disability or chronic health problems. Symptoms may develop suddenly or slowly.

Environmental sensitivities are often degenerative. Prevention, early detection and treatment are therefore of paramount importance. Treatment of environmental sensitivities focuses on prevention, prudent avoidance of offending agents, appropriate nutrition, supportive counselling and medical interventions.

Some of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde behavioural signs and symptoms of sensitivities include the following:

Behavioural Signs and Symptoms Hyperactive Irritable Aggressive Drowsiness Depression Poor concentration Underactive Indifferent Passive Distractible Inconsistent Too focused (appears not to hear)

Some of the physical signs and symptoms that may present include the following:

Physical Signs and Symptoms Headaches Rubbing eyes Red or watery eyes Bags or dark circles under eyes Red ears or ear lobes Earaches Nasal salute Stuffy, runny nose Frequent "colds" Mouth breathing Coughing, wheezing, asthma Throat clearing Stomach aches, diarrhea Eczema, hives and other skin rashes

Physical signs

• Central nervous system (including brain) — headaches, extreme tiredness, dizziness, fainting, mood swings, confusion, depression, hyperactivity, memory problems, loss of co-ordination, seizures.

• Systemic reactions — anaphylactic shock.

• Eyes — infected, itchy, red, watery or puffy, visual problems.

• Ears, nose and throat — frequent infections; itching, ringing ears, red earlobes; sneezing, itchy, irritated, blocked, runny or stuffy nose, "allergic salute" (pushing nose up with palm of hand); irritated, hoarse throat, laryngitis.

• Mouth — metallic taste, dryness, cracking, excessive saliva, skin peeling or blistering.

• Lungs — infected, coughing, wheezing, tightness, breathing difficulties, asthma.

• Skin — cold, itchy, cracked, red, bruised or swollen; hives, rashes, eczema.

• Muscles, bones and joints — stiffness, aches, pain, weakness, swelling, muscle cramps, "arthritic" symptoms.

• Digestive system — nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, irritation, food cravings, weight loss or gain.

• Urinary and reproductive systems — cramps, infections, itching, burning, urinary urgency or frequency.

Such problems make it very difficult to obtain an education. The barrel in the following illustration represents the total body burden a person can tolerate. Reactivity increases as the barrel fills, peaking when the barrel overflows. Thus the aim is to remove or reduce the stressors and triggers as much as possible.

Hypersensitivity is not synonymous with hyperactivity. Many children will become hypoactive (lethargic, withdrawn, etc.). They are less likely to be identified since they are not a problem to adults or other students. Some may experience alternating hyper/hypo periods.

The "Body Burden" Concept

Sensitivities affect each individual differently. Symptoms may be mild and merely annoying, or they can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities, family life and career. Severe sensitivity is called "hypersensitivity" and can be fatal.

It is essential that parents and schools work together to find the best possible environment for the individual student with environmental sensitivities.

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10.    Judge George M. Thomson, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Hypersensitivity disorders (Toronto: 1985).