title: An investigation of symptoms predating CFS onset.
abstract: The Fukuda et al. (1994) criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) specifies that a symptom can only be included within a diagnosis if it is experienced concurrently or following the onset of fatigue. In order to investigate this issue, participants provided information on persisting symptoms (lasting greater than six months) and whether those symptoms occurred prior to, concurrently, or following the onset of their fatigue. More symptoms were experienced after the fatigue onset than prior to the fatigue onset; however, a considerable number of participants reported experiencing persisting symptoms prior to the onset of CFS. Particularly, rates of hay fever and asthma were higher prior to the illness. Investigating symptoms prior to the onset of the illness might provide investigators with ways to better understand the etiology of this illness.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Community Research, DePaul University , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Meredyth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; Predating Symptoms; chronic fatigue syndrome