| Symptoms
Symptoms are diverse
and can vary considerably in terms of severity. Some individuals
are totally disabled by severe symptoms experienced daily, whereas
others experience only mild symptoms occasionally.
Symptoms can occur
immediately upon exposure to a triggering substance or may
be delayed for several hours. Likewise, the symptoms may clear
up right away once the trigger is removed, or may persist
for hours or days. The table below is a sample of common symptoms
experienced in different body systems. Symptoms may occur
in several body systems at the same time.
| Body System |
Symptoms |
| Central Nervous System |
Stronger sense of smell than others, feeling spacey, dull
or groggy, difficulty concentrating and remembering, headache,
restlessness, fatigue, depressed feeling |
| Upper Respiratory System |
Red, watery eyes, stuffy nose, blocked ears |
| Lower Respiratory System |
Cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, heavy chest |
| Gastrointestinal System |
Heartburn, nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea |
| Musculoskeletal System |
Joint and muscle pain in the extremities and/or back, muscle
twitching or spasms, muscle weakness |
| Cardiovascular System |
Rapid or irregular heartbeat, cold extremities, high or low
blood pressure |
Skin
(Dermatological System) |
Flushing, hives, other rashes, itching |
| Genitourinary System |
Frequency and urgency to urinate, painful bladder spasms |
Signs
Although physical
signs and abnormal laboratory tests have been noted in people
meeting the consensus case definition for MCS, no consistent
patterns have emerged.
Diagnosis
To make the diagnosis
of MCS, or overlapping ME/CFS or FM, it is important that
the physician 'rule out' or treat other medical conditions
that could account for the symptoms or signs that each person
is experiencing.
The doctor can
'rule in' MCS, ME/CFS or FM by using consensus criteria checklists.
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