Biomaterial Database

Malathion-induced epidemic hysteria in an elementary school. 1992

P Baker, and D Selvey

College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.

More than 100 people, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, nurses and physicians responded to reports that students at an elementary school had been exposed to an unknown and possibly toxic substance; 296 students were transported to eight hospital emergency departments. None were diagnosed as acutely ill. The substance was subsequently identified as approximately 22 ml of malathion, diluted in 15 L of water and applied by means of a hand-held sprayer approximately 100 m from the school. The odor apparently drifted to the school in 19 to 24 km/h winds. The episode was determined to be epidemic hysteria, possibly triggered by the malathion odor, but perpetuated by the stress of the emergency response. Hallmarks of epidemic hysteria are discussed, and recommendations for dealing with similar events are offered.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007046	Hysteria	Historical term for a chronic, but fluctuating, disorder beginning in early life and characterized by recurrent and multiple somatic complaints not apparently due to physical illness. This diagnosis is not used in contemporary practice.	Hysterical Neuroses,Neuroses, Hysterical
D008294	Malathion	A wide spectrum aliphatic organophosphate insecticide widely used for both domestic and commercial agricultural purposes.	Carbafos,Carbofos,Carbophos,Cythion,Karbofos,Prioderm,Sadophos
D008297	Male		Males
D009812	Odorants	The volatile portions of chemical substances perceptible by the sense of smell.	Odors,Aroma,Fragrance,Scents,Aromas,Fragrances,Odor,Odorant,Scent
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D004196	Disease Outbreaks	Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS.	Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D004630	Emergencies	Situations or conditions requiring immediate intervention to avoid serious adverse results.	Emergency
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man