The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is the international standard diagnostic classification for all recognized diseases. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity has been recently recognized in the ICD by three countries: Germany, Austria and Japan.
World Health Organization logo.
This is the World Health Organization’s information page on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It’s important to understand what this classification system is all about, because it’s the internationally recognized system for classifying diseases and we want as many countries as possible to list Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as a fully recognized toxicological illness.
Within the ICD, the current version of which is the ICD-10 (published in 1992), there is not a specific code called “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity(ies)” by definition, but MCS is classified in the ICD-10 in Chapter 19 (injuries, poisoning and other consequences of toxic causes). Other complex chronic conditions commonly overlapping with MCS are Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), classified in Chapter 6 (diseases of the nervous system) and Fibromyalgia (FM), classified in chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). Fibromyalgia, which research shows is in the same family of illnesses as MCS, is included as follows: M79 Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified; M79.0 Rheumatism, unspecified; Fibromyalgia; Fibrositis.
The ICD-10 is used in the United States and many other countries in the world. In 2008, Germany recognized MCS as a physical illness, with Austria doing the same in 2009; health authorities in those countries have directed the use of T78.4 as the ICD-10 code to use for MCS diagnosis. In Oct. 2009, MCS was listed in the Japan’s ICD-10 in Chapter 19 (injuries, poisoning and other consequences of toxic causes), with code T65.9 (toxic effect of unspecified substance), a more accurate classification of MCS than Germany or Austria.
With these three countries classifying MCS in the ICD, it means that MCS is not recognized in those countries as a psychosomatic disease but rather as a physical disease. Germany has specifically stated that allocation of MCS to Chapter 5 (mental and behavioral disturbances) is not foreseen.
Health authorities in the U.S. have not recognized MCS as a legitimate physical illness yet, and have therefore not specified the use of an ICD code for MCS.
If you enjoyed this post, you might like these related stories:
- Please sign Italian petition for recognition of Multiple Chemcial Sensitivity
- Austria recognizes Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as a physical disease
- The naked truth about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, in English
- Published research shows Multiple Chemical Sensitivity caused by toxic chemical exposure
- Interview with Eva Caballé about her new book on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
