What is CFS?

A rose by any other name..

CFS stands for 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome', it is also known here and in various parts of the world as:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome or CFIDS
Chronic Fatigue Immunodeficiency Syndrome or CFID
Myalgic Encephalopathy (again ME)
Nightingales disease
Icelandic disease
Royal free disease
Chronic viral fatigue syndrome
Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome or PVFS

There are also a few more derogatory names for this condition such as 'Yuppie flu' or 'Shirkers syndrome' used by the more cynical and disbelieving among us and many of an unprintable nature given to it by the sufferers themselves.
It has so far proved to be a difficult illness to pin down, for some, it can take years before a decisive diagnosis is made and even then treatments are few and far between in the absence of a recognised cure.

Could it happen to you?

Despite all the advantages you would expect youth to bring, children can also suffer from this debilitating condition and, as with adults, it can take years to recover to the point of leading a 'normal' life

Research carried out seems to point to the onset being most common between 20-40, with a high number reporting an onset in their early thirties (Dowsett and Ramsay, 1990; Hinds, 1993; Ho-Yen and McNamara, 1991; Shepherd, 1999).
Based on research to date, it would appear that females have a much greater chance of suffering from ME/CFS. When taking all published studies into account, it seems that of those suffering from the condition at least 60-70% are female.
A study carried out by Drs.Dowsett and Ramsay found the ratio between females and males to be 3:1; whereas a study by Dr. Ho-Yen found the ratio be 1.8:1.
Therefore it seems to be up to 3 times more likely to get ME/CFS if you are female aged between 20-40.

What triggers the illness?

Up to now there is no recognised trigger for CFS, though there are many in the medical profession who feel it is caused by a strain of the Epstein-Barr virus (also known as glandular fever or 'the kissing disease') Although the theory is widely credited, there is no absolute medical certainty of the connection.
Often the main symptoms will become apparent after an ordinary viral infection - flu', chicken-pox, sore throats, enlarged glands, joint pains, even a cold. It is possible for an apparently healthy person to come down with a viral infection, and develop full-blown CFS immediately. In other cases, there may be no obvious viral "trigger" at all, and the person may "slide" into the illness over a period of months or even years. Older people tend to develop CFS in this way which is why a swift diagnosis can be difficult.