Postviral fatigue syndrome

Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) is a subgroup of illness under the ME/CFS umbrella.

Controversy
Although the PVFS term is used in some literature and by some clinicians, medical literature does not call it this. Some medical literature uses Post-viral syndrome and it is noted that current interest focus on recent or persisting infection with Coxsackie viruses. It is claimed that a balanced view of the syndrome is a "mixture of organic and psychiatric function".

Research
There is no formal research into PVFS or PVS unlike the exhaustive examination of years of data and reports that produced the criteria Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) in the Institute of Medicine report.

Post-infectious Fatigue Syndrome
The Oxford criteria has a Post-infectious Fatigue Syndrome (PIFS) as one of its definitions. The Argus Report article US NIH Report Calls for UK Definition of ME/CFS to be Scrapped states: "The NIH has issued a draft report that highlights the dire need for scientific research that will help find a cure for the millions of people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) worldwide. The report also highlights the fact that the decades-old UK Royal Society of Medicine’s Oxford criteria for ME/CFS are severely “flawed,” and that continuing to use these criteria may “cause harm.” Further, the NIH report says that the Royal Society definition should “be retired” and replaced with a single case definition agreed to by the ME/CFS community."

Learn more

 * Institute of Medicine