What is the ICD-10 and what does it mean for the recognition of Multiple Chemica

[Guest guest]

What is the ICD-10 and what does it mean for the recognition of Multiple

Chemical Sensitivity?

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

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.