Mental Symptoms Induced by A Massive Outbreak of Infectious Disease (Enterhemorragic Escherichia Coli O157) in Elementary School Children: I Cases Meeting the DSM-IV Criteria for PTSD
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Accession number;04A0359682
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| Title;Mental Symptoms Induced by A Massive Outbreak of Infectious Disease (Enterhemorragic Escherichia Coli O157) in Elementary School Children: I Cases Meeting the DSM-IV Criteria for PTSD |
| Author;
OKUNO M
(Mikuni Hill Hospital, Osaka, Jpn)
()
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Journal Title;Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Journal Code:Z0387B
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ISSN:0289-0968
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VOL.44;NO.Supplement;PAGE.32-46(2003)
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| Figure&Table&Reference;TBL.1, REF.15 |
| Pub. Country;Japan |
| Language;English |
| Abstract;The massive, 1996 outbreak of infectious enterhemorragic Escherichia coli O157 in Japanese elementary school children in Sakai City was caused by contaminated school lunches. Totally, 7,889 children were infected, and 3 died. The mass outbreak ended without serious secondary infections, but afterward some children had fears and anxiety of relapse or avoided specific foods and school lunches. As a countermeasure, the Board of Education set up a consultation system staffed by psychiatrists. By March 1999, 2 years and 9 months after the O157 outbreak, there had been 38 consultations. As a result of examinations, 6 of the consultation cases met the DSM-IV criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and another 17 were recognized as having a stress-related disorder associated with this outbreak, even though they did not meet all the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. In these 23 cases there was strong reexperiencing or avoidance of the outbreak. Reexperiencing consisted mainly of repeated intrusive recollections of the outbreak and psychological or physical distress. Avoidance included not only school meals but the dislike of particular foods, such as uncooked vegetables, in addiction to repetitive compulsive behavior such as hand washing and compulsive checking about food temperature or safety. Furthermore, mysophobia, associations of E. coli O157 with trivial incidents, and fantasies of battling against E. coli O157 were generated. Of the PTSD cases diagnosed, 2 are presented in which symptoms appeared just after the outbreak and continued for more than three months. Our findings indicate that some children may suffer stress-related disorders, including PTSD, after an outbreak of mass infection. (author abst.) |
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