中学校と高等学校での遷延化した集団過換気症候群

Prolonged Mass Outbreaks of Hyperventilation Syndrome in a Junior High School and a Senior High School

抄録

　我々は2つの学校での過換気症候群の集団発生を経験した。1つは1990年に県境の山間部の高等学校，2つ目は2010年に県南の中学校であった。20年間の間隔があったが，運動との関連，伝播の仕方，休み期間中の発作の軽減，また再燃などの共通点があった。特に過換気は感応しやすく，また，他の症状は意識消失・無呼吸状態・心身故障の訴えなどを示した。前者は1年8か月間，後者は2年7か月間も持続し，また経過は二峰性を示した。治療では過換気について本人や養護教諭への説明，また，発端者への十分な注意，集団発生の最後まで残った人々への心理的背景の理解など，思春期独特の「個と集団の病理」に配慮する必要を感じた。

We have experienced two mass outbreaks of the hyperventilation syndrome at two different schools. One outbreak was in 1990 at a high school located in a mountainous area on the prefecture border. The second occurred in 2010 at a junior high school in the south of the prefecture. Although there was a span of 20 years between the two outbreaks, there were common characteristics evident. These are associated with school athletics, the way outbreaks spread, reduction of the symptoms during the off period and the time of recurrence. The hyperventilation in particular was easy to respond to. Other symptoms appeared as bouts of unconsciousness, an apnea state and some mental and physical disturbance. The former outbreak continued for one year and eight months and the latter for two years and seven months. The passages showed two peaks. Treatment consisted of an explanation about the hyperventilation syndrome to the students themselves and a school nurse, as well as adequate attention to the triggering students. An important thing was to understand the psychological background of the students who remained affected until the end of the mass outbreak. We also felt that the “the pathology of the individual and the group” peculiar to adolescence needs careful consideration.