Infectious Venulitis

Infectious Venulitis or IVN was a name proposed by Dr. Erich Ryll in response to the patients he saw during the 1975 Sacramento outbreak in California, United States. The outbreak would later come to be recognized as myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.).

History

The outbreak began at Mercy San Juan Hospital, in late summer of 1975, and lasted several years. Over 200 patients and staff fell ill.

Etiology

The name Infectious Venulitis refers to both the infectious nature of the illness Ryll observed, as well as inflammation of the venules (small blood vessels). Dr Ryll believed it to be a vascular disease, most likely a virus, but his long-term follow-up of patients found that over time, symptoms were less vascular in nature; and the illness was in fact myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Presentation

Dr. Ryll describing infectious venulitis: "an influenza-like onset, often so severe in nature that I call it a flu-storm, with headaches, sore throat, fever, dizziness, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, muscle aching, extremity pain, and other features."

See also

• 1975 Sacramento outbreak
• List of outbreaks

Learn more

• Infectious Venulitis - Dr Erich Ryll

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.

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.

etiology The cause of origin, especially of a disease.