Idiopathic chronic fatigue and myalgia syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis): some thoughts on nomenclature and aetiology.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a misnomer that describes epidemics of probable hysterical illness and bears no definite relationship to chronic fatigue and myalgia syndrome. The relationship of idiopathic fatigue syndromes to fatigue syndromes after well-defined viral illnesses such as glandular fever is also unclear. Detailed studies of muscle histochemistry and biochemistry in idiopathic chronic fatigue and myalgia syndrome do not support a defect in intermediate metabolism. The aetiology of this syndrome is unknown and it is not yet clear whether it has an organic or a non-organic basis.
Byrne
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Neurology Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC.
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D009626:Terminology as Topic