Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
This condition was first described in the 1950’s following an
outbreak of a viral illness, initially in Coventry and subsequently at
the Royal Free Hospital. The patients presented with a specific constellation
of symptoms which occurred within six months of a virus infection. There
are no specific diagnostic tests and diagnosis tends to be based on the
history and clinical picture together with the reassurance of a battery
of negative tests excluding other conditions with similar symptoms (such
as brucellosis, thyroid disease and immune problems).
It was originally called ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis’ as it
was felt to be an inflammatory condition, originally triggered by a coxsackie
virus which affected the muscles and the central nervous system. Subsequently
other virus infections, such as glandular fever appeared to cause the
same symptoms, leading to the term ‘Postviral Fatigue Syndrome’.
Nowadays, other non-viral triggers such as stress and emotional issues
have been implicated and the more global term of ‘Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome’
is used to cover the range of conditions that lead to a prolonged fatigue
state.
