The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a matrix for classifying clinical findings following an exposure to a total release fogger.
Parameters:
(1) exposure
(2) health effects
(3) causal relationship
Exposure |
Health Effects |
Causality |
Classification |
objective |
objective |
consistent |
definite |
objective |
subjective |
consistent |
probable |
subjective |
objective |
consistent |
probable |
subjective |
subjective |
consistent |
possible |
objective or subjective |
objective or subjective |
insufficient |
suspicious |
where:
• Objective evidence of an exposure is based on clinical, laboratory or environmental evidence of a pesticide release.
• Subjective evidence of an exposure is based on a report of an exposure by a patient or witness.
• Objective health effects are >= 2 new post-exposure findings reported by a health professional.
• Subjective health effects are >= 2 new post-exposure findings reported by the patient or a witness.
• Consistent causality is the presence of clinical findings that would be expected based on the toxicity of the agent to which the person was reportedly exposed to.
This grid leaves gaps for other responses. A possible expansion of the grid might be.
Exposure |
Health Effects |
Causality |
Classification |
objective or subjective |
objective or subjective |
inconsistent |
remote possibility (idiosyncratic) |
none |
objective or subjective |
consistent |
unrecognized exposure |
objective or subjective |
none |
NA |
nontoxic exposure |
none |
none |
inconsistent |
definitely not |
Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,