To quote Wikipedia;
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name given to a variably debilitating disorder or disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion and not substantially relieved by rest, and accompanied by the presence of other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months. The disorder may also be referred to as post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS, when the condition arises following a flu-like illness), myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), or several other terms. The etiology (cause or origin) of CFS is currently unknown and there is no diagnostic laboratory test or biomarker.
Treatment; Pacing is probably the most universally practised and successful ME/CFS coping mechanism.
Canadian Clinical Working Case Definition of ME/CFS
The Consensus Document (popularly known as the “Canadian Guidelines”) was compiled under Terms of Reference devised by Health Canada and drawn up by an international team of ME/CFS practitioners and researchers from Canada, US and Belgium with the combined experience of treating over 20,000 people with ME/CFS.
The Clinical Case Definition recognises common clusters of symptoms.
To be diagnosed with ME/CFS, seven specific criteria have to be met. A patient needs to satisfy criteria for
- fatigue;
- post-exertional malaise and/or fatigue;
- sleep dysfunction;
- pain;
- experience two or more listed neurological/cognitive manifestations;
- have one or more symptoms from two of the categories of autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune manifestations;
- the illness needs to have persisted for at least six months (three months for children).
Other illnesses also need to be excluded.
Related Links;
http://www.mecfs.org.au/
We are going to write more on this topic stay tuned.
