Medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived hypersensitivity to electricity and skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals.
OBJECTIVE
This study attempted to give a medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived "electrical sensitivity".


METHODS
In 1980-1998, 350 patients with electrical sensitivity were registered at the University Hospital of Northern Sweden in Umeå, Sweden. Those with hypersensitivity to electricity had multiple symptoms evoked by exposure to different electric environments. Those with skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals (VDT) predominantly had facial skin symptoms evoked by a VDT, television screens, or fluorescent light tubes. A questionnaire on civil status, current health status, care, treatment and other measures taken, consequences of the problem, eliciting factors, and current employment was sent to all the patients. The response rate was 73%. Of the 50 respondents with hypersensitivity to electricity, 38% were men and 62% were women. Of the 200 patients with skin symptoms related to VDT use, 21.5% were men and 78.5% women.


RESULTS
More women than men had turned to caregivers, including complementary therapies. A larger proportion of patients with hypersensitivity to electricity (38%) than those with skin symptoms related to VDT use (17%) was no longer gainfully employed. Both groups reported a higher symptom frequency than that reported by the the general population. Over time, the medical prognosis improved in the latter group but not in the former.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with hypersensitivity to electricity, particularly women, have extensive medical problems and a considerable number of them stop working. Many patients with skin symptoms related to VDT use have a favorable prognosis. Both groups need early and consistent management.
Stenberg
Berndt
B
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden. berndt.stenberg@vll.se
Bergdahl
Jan
J
Edvardsson
Berit
B
Eriksson
Nils
N
Lindén
Gerd
G
Widman
Lars
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D016288:Computer Terminals; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology