Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Akureyri Disease
Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Epidemic Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Epidemic Neuromyasthenia
Iceland Disease
Raphe Nucleus Encephalopathy
Royal Free Disease
Tapanui Flu
CFS
ME

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Until the late 1980s, myalgic encephalomyelitis was thought to be a distinct, infectious disorder affecting the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems and the muscles. Its major symptom was fatigue to the point of extended periods of exhaustion. A group of experts studying the Epstein-Barr virus first published strict criteria for the symptoms and physical signs of chronic fatigue syndrome in 1988. This case definition was further refined in 1994.

The Fact Sheet for CFS published by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health states that "[T]oday, CFS is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, postviral fatigue syndrome, and chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome." ME/CFS is now recognized as part of a range of illnesses that have fatigue as a major symptom.

ME/CFS is not rare. The CDC estimates that there are as many as 500,000 persons in the United States who have CFS-like symptoms. However, the disorder remains debilitating, complex and mysterious in origin, natural history, understanding and treatment.

Resources

National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Association
P.O. Box 18426
Kansas City, MO 64133
Tel: (816)737-1343
Fax: (816)524-6782
Email: information@ncfsfa.org
Internet: http://www.ncfsfa.org

Myalgic Encephalopathy Association
The ME Association
4 Top Angel
Buckingham Industrial Park
Buckingham
Buchinghamshire, Intl MK18 1TH
UK
Tel: 4408712227824
Fax: 4401820821602
Email: gill.briody@meassociation.org.uk
Internet: http://www.meassociation.org.uk

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)311-3435
Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/

NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892-6612
Tel: (301)496-5717
Fax: (301)402-3573
TDD: (800)877-8339
Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/

CFIDS Association of America, Inc.
PO Box 220398
Charlotte, NC 28222-0398
USA
Tel: 7043640466
Fax: 7043659755
Tel: 8004423437
Email: cfids@cfids.org
Internet: http://www.cfids.org

MAME, Inc. (Mothers Against Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
1 Orne Square
Salem, MA 01970
USA
Tel: 9787448293
Fax: 9787442027
Email: MAME@mame-net.org
Internet: http://www.mame-net.org

National CFIDS Foundation, Inc.
103 Aletha Rd
Needham, MA 02492-3931
Tel: (781)449-3535
Fax: (781)449-8606
Email: gailronda@aol.com
Internet: http://www.ncf-net.org

CF Alliance
P.O. Box 9204
Bardonia, NY 10954
Tel: (845)548-0313
Fax: (845)792-0880
Email: CF_ALLIANCE@yahoo.com
Internet: http://cf-alliance.tripod.com

ME Association
4 Top Angel
Buckingham, MK18 1TH
UK
Tel: 44 (0) 1280 821602
Email: meconnection@meassociation.org.uk
Internet: http://www.meassociation.org.uk

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/7/2004
Copyright 1987, 1988, 1989, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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