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==ME vs CFS vs CF== The name myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was coined following an [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis|outbreak]] of an illness at the [[1955 Royal Free Hospital outbreak|Royal Free Hospital]] in the UK, in 1955. The name chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was coined by the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) following an [[List of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome outbreaks|outbreak]] of a [[flu-like illness]] at [[1984 Incline Village chronic fatigue syndrome outbreak|Incline Village]], at Lake Tahoe, in the 1980s. There is disagreement as to whether ME and CFS are the same disease, entirely separate illnesses, or whether ME constitutes a more severe subset of CFS. Adding to the confusion, the diagnostic name given to patients is more often dependent on the country in which they live, than differing characteristics of their illness, as some countries use CFS (eg: US, [[Australia]]), and other countries (particularly in Europe) use ME. At this point in time, there is no clear biological evidence to resolve whether the illnesses are the same or different, and there is unlikely to be a resolution until firm [[diagnostic biomarker|biomarkers]] have been identified. As such, many patients and researchers use the term ME/CFS.<ref name="Klimas20140621video" /> See: [[Definitions of ME and CFS]]. The name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is itself controversial, as many consider it [[stigma and discrimination|stigmatizing]]. In February 2016, Dr [[Anthony Komaroff]], who was part of the CDC group of clinicians who coined the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, said of it: <blockquote>"I think that was a big mistake because the name, in my opinion, and the opinion of a lot of people, it both trivializes and stigmatizes the illness. It makes it seem unimportant, maybe not even real"<ref name="Komaroff20160217video" /></blockquote> It is important to distinguish between ME/CFS and chronic fatigue (CF), which is a symptom of many different medical conditions (e.g.: anemia, [[hepatitis]], [[multiple sclerosis]], [[Thyroid disease|hypothyroidism]], [[depression]], ME/CFS). "Chronic fatigue" is not an illness in its own right and it is incorrect and misleading to refer to ME/CFS as "chronic fatigue". While [[fatigue]] is a component of ME/CFS, many consider [[post-exertional malaise]] (PEM) to be the cardinal feature of ME/CFS.<ref name="Carruthers, 2003" /><ref name="IOM2015MECFS" />
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