[MCS, CFS, FMS, SBS and other "modern" illnesses]

Common "environmental illnesses" are outlined with respect to their history and case definition. As no objective diagnostic criteria are available, these diagnoses may only be applied after sufficient exclusion of other known diseases. Profound knowledge regarding the etiology of these conditions is still lacking, and scientifically based somatic concepts for their therapy do not exist. Thus there is room for a multitude of unvalidated methods for diagnosis and therapy, and alleged causes are readily offered. The psychologic and economic consequences for the affected individuals are sometimes deleterious, the costs are a growing public concern. Proposals are made for the management of cases of suspected environmental illness.