Citation

Selden BS. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1989; 18(8): 892-895.

Affiliation

Emergency Department, Humana Hospital-Alaska, Anchorage.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2757289

Abstract

Discussed is a case of explosive epidemic hysteria presenting as a mass casualty, toxic inhalation incident. Fifteen adolescent female students were triaged from a school of 700 persons exposed to sewer gas and arrived simultaneously at the emergency department complaining of a variety of nonspecific symptoms without physical findings. These symptoms quickly remitted with reassurance and dispersion of the group. Factors important in the recognition and treatment of epidemic hysteria are presented.