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Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is the preferred term covering a wide range of conditions including myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), myalgic encephalopathy, post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), and chronic fatigue immune dysfuntion syndrome (CFIDS).

The term myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is still commonly used; ‘Myalgia’ is muscle pain, and ‘encephalomyelitis’ refers to inflammation and dysfunction of the brain and spinal cord.  Whilst this may be accurate in some cases, ME is now considered to be too specific to cover the range of symptoms experienced.

CFS can affect people of all ages, twice as many women as men, and all social classes equally.