What Is ME?
ME can and does affect all age ranges, from young teenagers to the elderly. The peak age tends to be between 20 and 40 and the incidence seems higher amongst those in stressful occupations. ME, or Chronic Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, is primarily a brain disorder which typically occurs in a vulnerable individual, often at a time of stress, as a consequence of a viral or recurrent viral infection. Clinically it is a fluctuating disorder of energy control (fatigue). Symptoms commonly include prolonged recovery from any activity, muscle pain, sleep disturbances, disturbances of memory and concentration, irritable bowel, abnormal temperature control, emotional lability and mood fluctuations. The consensus view is that the average duration of the illness is four years and up to twenty percent of sufferers fail to return to previous levels of functioning. The severity of this disorder varies, though some patients are disabled for years. It is estimated that there are around 150,000 people in the UK today suffering from ME and related chronic fatigue syndromes. The loss of working hours and the inter-related burden upon social services amounts to many millions of pounds annually, less alone personal stress that cannot be measured. Disease Definition
The ME Centre is set up to see fatigue syndromes of all types. It recognises that chronic fatigue syndrome is an umbrella diagnosis and that the illness content varies from patient to patient. It includes that disorder designated myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). It recognises therefore the need to advise and recommend very individualised treatment packages. The centre accepts the criteria as described by Fukuda et al 1994 as being suitable for the diagnosis, namely "substantial fatigue newly acquired of greater than six months duration which may be associated with cognitive or neuropsychiatric symptoms". It requires four other symptoms from a list of eight which includes recurrent sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy, myalgia, headache, impaired memory multi-joint pain, unrefreshing sleep, post exertion malaise. It excludes medical conditions that can produce fatigue and psychiatric disturbances such as melancholic depression, substance abuse, manic depressive disorders, psychosis and eating disorders. The definition recognises Idiopathic Fatigue Syndrome - for those who do not fulfill the criteria of chronic fatigue syndrome. These include those with a life long history of fatigue symptoms (Fukuda K, Strauss S, Hickie I, Sharpe M, Dobbins J, Komaroff: The chronic fatigue syndrome; A comprehensive approach to its definition and study: Ann. Int. Med 1994; 121; 953-959. Our concept is that chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) represents a profound disturbance of functioning of the nervous system (brain) and its connections with the immune system and endocrine system (hormone).
|
