Differential diagnosis

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Differential diagnosis in ME/CFS is the process which tries to make a correct diagnosis by excluding other diseases which can cause similar symptoms, for example other fatiguing or painful illness.[1]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Many diseases can cause similar symptoms ME/CFS:

However, if strict diagnostic criteria and diagnostic testing for other conditions is used, misdiagnosing a patient suffering from the conditions above with ME/CFS is unlikely.[2][3]

Multiple Sclerosis[edit | edit source]

Neurological symptoms, such as POTS symptoms and dysautonomia are very common in ME/CFS patients, those same symptoms are common in M.S. as well. Furthermore M.S. can often present with fatigue and post-exertional malaise.[4]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2021, Clinical Profile and Aspects of Differential Diagnosis in Patients with ME/CFS from Latvia[5] - (Full text)
  • 2000, Differential diagnosis: The challenge of chronic fatigue[1] - (Full text)

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]