Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Synonyms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Akureyri Disease
Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
CFS
Epidemic Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Epidemic Neuromyasthenia
Iceland Disease
ME
ME
Raphe Nucleus Encephalopathy
Royal Free Disease
Tapanui Flu

Disorder Subdivisions

General Discussion
Until the late 1980s, myalgic encephalomyelitis was thought to be a distinct, infectious disorder affecting the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems and the muscles. Its major symptom was fatigue to the point of extended periods of exhaustion. A group of experts studying the Epstein-Barr virus first published strict criteria for the symptoms and physical signs of chronic fatigue syndrome in 1988. This case definition was further refined in 1994.

The Fact Sheet for CFS published by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health states that [T]oday, CFS is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, postviral fatigue syndrome, and chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. ME/CFS is now recognized as part of a range of illnesses that have fatigue as a major symptom.

ME/CFS is not rare. The CDC estimates that there are as many as 500,000 persons in the United States who have CFS-like symptoms. However, the disorder remains debilitating, complex and mysterious in origin, natural history, understanding and treatment.

Organizations related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

CF Alliance
P.O. Box 9204
Bardonia NY 10954
Phone #: 845-548-0313
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://cf-alliance.tripod.com
CFIDS Association of America, Inc.
PO Box 220398
Charlotte NC 28222-0398
Phone #: 704-364-0466
800 #: 800-442-3437
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.cfids.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30333
Phone #: 404-639-3534
800 #: 800-311-3435
e-mail: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Home page: http://www.cdc.gov/
MAME, Inc. (Mothers Against Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
1 Orne Square
Salem MA 01970
Phone #: 978-744-8293
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.mame-net.org
ME Association
4 Top Angel
Buckingham None MK18 1TH
Phone #: 44 -(0)- 1280 821602
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.meassociation.org.uk
Myalgic Encephalopathy Association
The ME Association
Buchinghamshire Intl MK18 1TH
Phone #: 440-871-2227824
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.meassociation.org.uk
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda MD 20892-6612
Phone #: 301-496-5717
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
National CFIDS Foundation, Inc.
103 Aletha Rd
Needham MA 02492-3931
Phone #: 781-449-3535
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.ncf-net.org
National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Association
P.O. Box 18426
Kansas City MO 64133
Phone #: 816-737-1343
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.ncfsfa.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html