Portal:Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

MEpedia portals: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis · Nervous system · Cardiovascular system · Digestive system · Energy metabolism · Endocrine system · Immune system · Pathogens · History & People · Treatments

edit  

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disease of the nervous system and the immune system. Its hallmark symptom is post-exertional malaise, a severe worsening of symptoms after cognitive or physical exertion. Common symptoms of ME include: cognitive dysfunction, orthostatic intolerance, and unrefreshing sleep. Many patients will also have headaches, pain, muscle weakness or muscle fatigability, sensitivities to light, sound, touch, foods, odors, and an array of other symptoms. (more...)

edit  

Primer

Primers

Choose a Primer to learn about the disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

• Primer for doctors and researchers
• Primer for family, friends and care providers
• Primer for journalists
• Primer for patients
• Primer for the public

edit  

Selected article

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a worsening of many ME/CFS symptoms as a result of physical or mental exertion. PEM, sometimes called Post-exertional Neuroimmune Exhaustion (PENE), is often regarded as the main symptom that differentiates Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) from other fatiguing illnesses. (more...)

edit  

Topics

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
• Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease
• Canadian Consensus Criteria
• David Tuller
• Exercise
• List of news articles on ME and CFS
• List of outbreaks
• PACE trial
• Post-exertional malaise
• Primer for journalists
• Primer for family, friends and care providers
• Quotes
• Severe and very severe ME

edit  

In the news

• Two new clinical trials announced: Open Medicine Foundation - May 2020
• ME Awareness Month begins - May 2020
• News articles: ME & CFS after COVID-19 - May 2020
• Cyclophosphamide clinical trial: positive results - Apr 2020
• Post-COVID-19 illness (new page) - Mar 2020
• Coronavirus disease 19 - advice from ME charity scientific advisors - Mar 2020

• Public health expert David Tuller begins crowdfunding for another year's work, including ME/CFS and COVID-19 - Apr 2020
• Solve ME/CFS Initiative announces a new partnership to improve ME/CFS research - Apr 2020
• ME charities publish advice on the Coronavirus and COVID-19 for patients - Feb/Mar 2020
• ME specialist Byron Hyde no longer able to practice medicine - Aug 2019
• Australian ME/CFS Biobank to be setup after A$1 million grant awarded - Aug 2019
• Major Editorial correction for Esther Crawley's Lightning Process trial - Jul 2019
• A nanoelectronics blood-based diagnostic biomarker for ME/CFS - Apr 2019

(hide)

(read more)

edit  

Diagnostic criteria

Learn more about the diagnosis

If you think you might have ME, read these diagnostic criteria and see how they compare with your symptoms:

• Institute of Medicine Diagnostic Criteria
• Canadian Consensus Criteria
• International Consensus Criteria

edit  

Co-morbidities

Co-morbid diagnoses

Learn more about the diagnoses that are commonly co-morbid with and related to ME. Note: it is possible to both have ME and one of these diagnoses, or to have one of these diagnoses and not have ME.

• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Multiple chemical sensitivity
• Postural orthostatic tachychardia
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Interstitial cystitis

edit  

Find a doctor

Find a doctor

• MEAction global directory of physicians, support groups and organizations

Find support

• Join an #MEAction support, social or advocacy group
• Find a UK organization or support group
• Find a US organization or support group
• View all patient groups

edit  

Selected picture

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a complex multi-systemic illness. Common symptoms include neurological symptoms, immune and gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiovascular and endocrine symptoms.

edit  

Related portals

Potential treatments	Immune system

  What are portals?    ·    List of portals  

myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

ME/CFS - An acronym that combines myalgic encephalomyelitis with chronic fatigue syndrome. Sometimes they are combined because people have trouble distinguishing one from the other. Sometimes they are combined because people see them as synonyms of each other.

post-exertional malaise (PEM) - A notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small physical or cognitive exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others.

post-exertional malaise (PEM) - A notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small physical or cognitive exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others.

post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE) - An alternative term for post-exertional malaise (PEM), used by people who find that the word 'malaise' fails to capture the serious nature of the condition. Used in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.

post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE) - An alternative term for post-exertional malaise (PEM), used by people who find that the word 'malaise' fails to capture the serious nature of the condition. Used in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - A fatigue-based illness. The term CFS was invented invented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as an replacement for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Some view CFS as a neurological disease, others use the term for any unexplained long-term fatigue. Sometimes used as a the term as a synonym of myalgic encephalomyelitis, despite the different diagnostic criteria.