Fukuda criteria

The Fukuda criteria (or CDC 1994 criteria) are a criteria for the diagnosis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) published in 1994. It has been widely used in research.

Authors

Keiji Fukuda; Stephen Straus; Ian Hickie; Michael Sharpe; James Dobbins; Anthony Komaroff, International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group.

Definition

The concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms:

• substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration;
• sore throat;
• tender lymph nodes;
• muscle pain;
• multi-joint pain without swelling or redness;
• headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity;
• unrefreshing sleep; and
• post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.

These symptoms must have persisted or recurred during 6 or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue.

Questionnaire

PDF By: IACFSME

Criteria, Exclusions and Severity.

Criticisms

• Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is not mandatory. (Most US researchers do use PEM option.)
• Doctors and researchers not using PEM option have misdiagnosed Chronic Fatigue (CF) patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
• In research, if PEM option is not used the study is not considered by patients and many researchers to be a true CFS study; it is considered to be a (CF) study. Or both CFS and CF patients are in a CFS study as some patients have PEM and other patients do not making the study severely flawed and useless to either CFS or CF research.
• It is not easy to use on a clinical level as it was created for research. It can take several specialists and years to diagnose a patient.
• Dual diagnosis is not always possible and this is not useful in a clinical setting. (i.e., AIDS + CFS or MS + CFS.)
• Leads to confusion over Chronic Fatigue (a symptom of many illness, depression, diseases, medications) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (a grossly misnamed disease.)

Learn more

• Fukuda criteria
• CDC criteria
• 2004, Comparing the Fukuda et al. Criteria and the Canadian Case Definition for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Leonard Jason et al.
• 2003, Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution, by Reeves, et al.
• 2001, A Comparison of the 1988 and 1994 Diagnostic Criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Leonard Jason et al.

See also

• Case Definition Comparison - Graph 1
• Definitions of ME and CFS

post-exertional malaise (PEM) - A notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small physical or cognitive exertions. PEM may be referred to as a "crash" or "collapse" and can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain, trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, and others.

chronic fatigue (CF) - Persistent and abnormal fatigue is a symptom, not an illness. It may be caused by depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or many other illnesses. The term "chronic fatigue" should never be confused with the disease chronic fatigue syndrome.

chronic fatigue (CF) - Persistent and abnormal fatigue is a symptom, not an illness. It may be caused by depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or many other illnesses. The term "chronic fatigue" should never be confused with the disease chronic fatigue syndrome.