Chronic fatigue syndrome

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Chronic fatigue syndrome is the name coined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in response to an outbreak of "chronic flu like illness" at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe in 1984-1985.[1]

As of February 2013, the CDC recognized that more than one million Americans have CFS.[2] The February 2015 Institute of Medicine report stated that there are 836,000 to 2.5 million ME/CFS patients.[3]

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should be distinguished from chronic fatigue, which is a symptom of many different conditions, though not a condition in its own right. These terms are often confused by the media, healthcare practitioners and the general public.

Controversy[edit | edit source]

The name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is controversial, as many consider it stigmatising. For decades, patient advocates have been lobbying the CDC to instead use the name Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), though the CDC has refused.[4] Most patients and patient organisations prefer the name ME, or the hybrid ME/CFS.

In February 2016, Dr Anthony Komaroff, who was part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group of clinicians who coined the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, said of it:

"I think that was a big mistake because the name, in my opinion, and the opinion of a lot of people, it both trivialises and stigmatises the illness. It makes it seem unimportant, maybe not even real".[5]

Dr. Nancy Klimas discusses the name controversy in the video ME/CFS Diagnosis and Name.

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

<references>

[3]

[5]

  1. ↑ Fatigue 'Virus' Has Experts More Baffled And Skeptical Than Ever - NY Times July 1987
  2. ↑ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - CDC
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Institute of Medicine (USA); Committee on the Diagnostic Criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (February 10, 2015), Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness Invalid |display-authors=2 (help)
  4. ↑ A Disease in Search of a Name: The History of CFS and the Efforts to Change Its Name - Chronic Fatigue Support
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Komaroff, Anthony; Iskander, John (February 17, 2016), "Interview with Dr Anthony Komaroff", CDC Public Health Ground Rounds - Beyond the Data - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Advancing Research and Clinical Education Unknown parameter |displayauthors= ignored (|display-authors= suggested) (help)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. government agency dedicated to epidemiology and public health. It operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.

National Academy of Medicine (NAM) - An American non-profit, non-governmental organization which provides expert advice to governmental agencies on issues relating to biomedical science, medicine and health. Formerly known as the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

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