Enteroviral infection hypothesis

The enteroviral hypothesis is the hypothesis that a significant subset of patients meeting the criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis, as well as those affected by the historic outbreaks, had their illness triggered by an enterovirus, one that might continue to persist and contribute to symptoms. It is a hypothesis held by John Chia, Byron Hyde, Melvin Ramsay, and others, and recently investigated by Maureen Hanson.

Theory

Enterovirus symptoms could account for many of the symptoms of ME/CFS.

See also

Enterovirus.

Evidence

Rates of enteroviral infection are higher in ME/CFS than in the general population, and a recent review by O'Neal and Hanson (2021) found that a number of outbreaks of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome were highly likely to have been caused by an enterovirus.

See also

List of enterovirus infection studies.

See also

List of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome outbreaks.

Persistence

A review by O'Neal and Hanson (2021) found that the presence of chronic enterovirus infection in ME/CFS could not be ruled out.

Notable studies

• 2022, The Enterovirus Theory of Disease Etiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Critical Review - (Full text)

See also

• Persistent infection hypothesis
• Coxsackie B
• Enterovirus
• Non-cytolytic enterovirus
• List of enterovirus infection studies
• Post-mortem brain studies

enterovirus A genus of RNA viruses which typically enter the body through the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems and sometimes spread to the central nervous system or other parts of the body, causing neurological, cardiac, and other damage. Since the first reports of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), enteroviruses have been suspected as a cause of ME. Enteroviruses have also been implicated as the cause of Type I diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. Enteroviruses include poliovirus, coxsackieviruses, and many others. New enteroviruses and new strains of existing enteroviruses are continuously being discovered. (Learn more: viralzone.expasy.org)

enterovirus A genus of RNA viruses which typically enter the body through the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems and sometimes spread to the central nervous system or other parts of the body, causing neurological, cardiac, and other damage. Since the first reports of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), enteroviruses have been suspected as a cause of ME. Enteroviruses have also been implicated as the cause of Type I diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. Enteroviruses include poliovirus, coxsackieviruses, and many others. New enteroviruses and new strains of existing enteroviruses are continuously being discovered. (Learn more: viralzone.expasy.org)

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

enterovirus A genus of RNA viruses which typically enter the body through the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems and sometimes spread to the central nervous system or other parts of the body, causing neurological, cardiac, and other damage. Since the first reports of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), enteroviruses have been suspected as a cause of ME. Enteroviruses have also been implicated as the cause of Type I diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. Enteroviruses include poliovirus, coxsackieviruses, and many others. New enteroviruses and new strains of existing enteroviruses are continuously being discovered. (Learn more: viralzone.expasy.org)

etiology The cause of origin, especially of a disease.

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.