Timeline for ME and CFS
Nobody is certain of the exact date and origin of this disease, but stories of people exhibiting ME-like symptoms date back centuries.
The disease causing the Royal Free Hospital outbreak was given the name ‘Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis' by Acheson
CFS label, proposed by US CDC, appeared in the medical literature replacing chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome.
CFS-Fukuda used broader term ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ replacing ‘ME’ and lumped in other conditions. Does not require PEM. CFS-Fukuda is a clinical and research criteria.
ME/CFS - Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) redefined CFS patient group to require post-exertional malaise.
International Consensus Criteria (ICC) developed to advance the CCC’s strategy of grouping patterns of symptom clusters and add biological testing. ME-ICC is a clinical and research criteria.
United States report, “Beyond ME/CFS”, combined ME and CFS into the umbrella term ME/CFS for conditions presenting with post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep, plus cognitive impairment and/or orthostatic intolerance. ME/CFS-IOM is a clinical criteria.
NICE guidelines (UK) updated to confirm ME/CFS as biological (not psychological) and removed harmful practice of dangerous graded exercise therapy (GET) and stopped promoting cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as a cure.
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