Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria
A great variety of non-specific symptoms may occur in patients living or working in moisture-damaged buildings. In the beginning, these symptoms are usually reversible, mild, and present irritation of mucosa and increased morbidity due to respiratory tract infections and asthma-like symptoms. Later,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00951/full |
| _version_ | 1818540624493674496 |
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| author | Ville Valtonen |
| author_facet | Ville Valtonen |
| author_sort | Ville Valtonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A great variety of non-specific symptoms may occur in patients living or working in moisture-damaged buildings. In the beginning, these symptoms are usually reversible, mild, and present irritation of mucosa and increased morbidity due to respiratory tract infections and asthma-like symptoms. Later, the disease may become chronic and a patient is referred to a doctor where the assessment of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) often presents diagnostic challenges. Currently, unanimously accepted laboratory tests are not yet available. Therefore, the diagnosis of DMHS is clinical and is based on the patient’s history and careful examination. In this publication, I reviewed contemporary knowledge on clinical presentations, laboratory methods, and clinical assessment of DMHS. From the literature, I have not found any proposed diagnostic clinical criteria. Therefore, I propose five clinical criteria to diagnose DMHS: (1) the history of mold exposure in water-damaged buildings, (2) increased morbidity to due infections, (3) sick building syndrome, (4) multiple chemical sensitivity, and (5) enhanced scent sensitivity. If all the five criteria are met, the patient has a very probable DMHS. To resolve the current problems in assigning correct DMHS diagnosis, we also need novel assays to estimate potential risks of developing DMHS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:57:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea1fe85fea414995b7bf348d6f856e33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:57:49Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea1fe85fea414995b7bf348d6f856e332022-12-22T00:49:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242017-08-01810.3389/fimmu.2017.00951241612Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic CriteriaVille Valtonen0Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandA great variety of non-specific symptoms may occur in patients living or working in moisture-damaged buildings. In the beginning, these symptoms are usually reversible, mild, and present irritation of mucosa and increased morbidity due to respiratory tract infections and asthma-like symptoms. Later, the disease may become chronic and a patient is referred to a doctor where the assessment of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) often presents diagnostic challenges. Currently, unanimously accepted laboratory tests are not yet available. Therefore, the diagnosis of DMHS is clinical and is based on the patient’s history and careful examination. In this publication, I reviewed contemporary knowledge on clinical presentations, laboratory methods, and clinical assessment of DMHS. From the literature, I have not found any proposed diagnostic clinical criteria. Therefore, I propose five clinical criteria to diagnose DMHS: (1) the history of mold exposure in water-damaged buildings, (2) increased morbidity to due infections, (3) sick building syndrome, (4) multiple chemical sensitivity, and (5) enhanced scent sensitivity. If all the five criteria are met, the patient has a very probable DMHS. To resolve the current problems in assigning correct DMHS diagnosis, we also need novel assays to estimate potential risks of developing DMHS.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00951/fullmolddampnessmultiple chemical sensitivitysick building syndromeclinical classificationHLA genes |
| spellingShingle | Ville Valtonen Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria Frontiers in Immunology mold dampness multiple chemical sensitivity sick building syndrome clinical classification HLA genes |
| title | Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria |
| title_full | Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria |
| title_fullStr | Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria |
| title_short | Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria |
| title_sort | clinical diagnosis of the dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome review of the literature and suggested diagnostic criteria |
| topic | mold dampness multiple chemical sensitivity sick building syndrome clinical classification HLA genes |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00951/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT villevaltonen clinicaldiagnosisofthedampnessandmoldhypersensitivitysyndromereviewoftheliteratureandsuggesteddiagnosticcriteria |