Prevalence and risk factors for chemical sensitivity and sensory hyperreactivity in teenagers

Authors: Andersson L, Johansson A, Millqvist E, Nordin S, Bende M

Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2008 Oct;211(5-6):690-7

The prevalence of chemical sensitivity (CS) and sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) was assessed in a teenage population. Among a random sample of 401 teenagers, 326 (81.3%) answered questionnaires assessing sensitivity to chemicals and noise, anxiety and depression. A subgroup of 85 teenagers conducted a capsaicin inhalation test. The estimated prevalence was 15.6% for general self-reported CS, 3.7% for CS with affective and behavioral consequences, about 1% for SHR. Sensitivity variables were positively intercorrelated. Risk factors for general CS were noise sensitivity (OR: 2.1), probable anxiety (OR: 2.5) and female sex (OR: 2.0). CS problems seem to be present also in teenagers, although less so than in adults. Furthermore, CS seems to be related to other environmental sensitivities.

PMID: 18403259 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The full text is available at:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18403259

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