The PediQEESI™ is a new screening and tracking tool for earlier recognition of toxic exposure-associated health patterns in children, according to a video presentation by Dr. Rodolfo Rincon of the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Research Program at UT Health San Antonio.
Rincon presented an abstract and paper about the PediQEESI™ on Oct. 21, 2026, at the CUICIID 2026 Congress (International University Congress on Content, Research, Innovation and Teaching) in Spain.
Watch a livestream of Rincon’s video presentation.
About the PediQEESI™
The PediQEESI™ was developed by the TILT Research Program at UT Health San Antonio as a pediatric adaptation of the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI®), an internationally validated questionnaire used globally in research and clinical settings to assess chemical intolerance in adults.
The PediQEESI™ can document a careful environmental exposure history when evaluating children with chronic, fluctuating, or unexplained symptoms:
- Complete the PediQEESI™ symptom and exposure questionnaire.
- Use the QEESI Symptoms Star to score and visualize symptom severity.
- Complete the brief exposure history to help identify possible environmental contributors.
Repeated use of the PediQEESI™ over time can help families and clinicians track whether symptoms improve or worsen in relation to changes in exposures, environments, diet, medications, or daily activities.
“Parents might see their child having a severe adverse reaction to fragrances or foods. The PediQEESI™ can help the parent determine if their child has chemical intolerance, give that information to their doctor, and help avoid future exposure,” said Dr. Claudia S. Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the TILT Research Program at UT Health San Antonio.
About Dr. Rincon
Before his recent retirement, Dr. Rodolfo Rincon coordinated online research on chemical intolerance for the TILT Research Program in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
Rincon received his M.D. from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
He practiced family and emergency medicine at the Regional General Hospital in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, for more than 15 years. At the same time, he served as director of the Laredo, Texas, health department’s HIV/AIDS/STD program.
After completing his Master of Public Health from the School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M University, Dr. Rincon worked as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M International University in Laredo where he initiated the public health track in 2006.
As part of the TILT Research Program, Rincon also helped conduct environmental house calls, served as liaison to the Institutional Review Board, served as the team’s English-to-Spanish translator, and reviewed scientific literature for the team.
Watch a livestream of Rincon’s video presentation.
How can you find out if you have chemical intolerance?
Answer these three questions from the TILT Program on Chemical Intolerance:
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any question, take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) and share the results with your doctor!