| Copyright by Jodi Bassett, 2004 (updated January 2006)
An excerpt of the full test:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/ICD-CFS*) is a debilitating acquired illness which has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1969 as an organic neurological disorder. ME/ICD-CFS can occur in both epidemic and sporadic forms (over 60 outbreaks have been recorded worldwide since 1934) and appears to be remarkably similar to post-polio syndrome (an enteroviral triggered disorder) (Hooper et al. 2001 [Online]). ME/ICD-CFS can be extremely severe and in some cases the illness is fatal.
Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis a new/modern psychological illness?
No, it has been documented as a neurological illness for centuries. The disorder used to be known as ‘atypical poliomyelitis’ but was renamed Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) in 1956. In 1962 the distinguished neurologist Lord Brain included M.E. in the standard textbook of neurology, M.E. was then formally classified as a disease of the central nervous system in the World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases in ICD 8 in 1969. The current ICD, ICD-10, continues to classify M.E. (and CFS) as a distinct organic (physical) neurological illness with ICD code G93.3. (Hooper & Montague 2001 [Online]).
As M.E. expert Dr Elizabeth Dowsett explains: ‘There is ample evidence that M.E. is primarily a neurological illness, although non-neurological complications affecting the liver, cardiac and skeletal muscle, endocrine and lymphoid tissues are also recognised’ (a [Online]).
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis has nothing to do with ‘fatigue’
If you are tired all the time, you do not have ME/ICD-CFS. The terms ‘fatigue’ and ‘chronic fatigue’ were not associated with this illness at all until the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was coined in 1988 (this despite the fact the illness had already been legitimately named Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in 1956) (Hyde 2005, [online]). The ‘f’ word was selected in 1988 entirely for what it could achieve politically: it was never intended to be a genuine medical description of the symptomatology of the illness. In reality having M.E. is like having parts of Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, Alzheimers, Arthritis and Epilepsy all mixed together at once, with some extra horrific symptoms thrown in that are entirely its own.
M.E. is a neurological illness of extraordinarily incapacitating dimensions that affects virtually every bodily system – not a problem of ‘chronic fatigue.’
What can trigger or cause the onset of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis?
ME/ICD-CFS expert Dr Byron Hyde explains that: ‘[The] prodromal phase is associated with a usually short onset or triggering illness. This onset illness usually takes the form of either, or any combination, of the following, (a) an upper respiratory illness, (b) a gastrointestinal upset, (c) vertigo and (d) a moderate to severe meningitic type headache. The usual incubation period of the triggering illness is 4-6 days. (1998 [Online])
There is no link however between having ME/ICD-CFS and being a 'perfectionist' or having a ‘type A’ or over-achiever personality. ME/ICD-CFS is also not caused by a period of long-term or intense stress, trauma or abuse in childhood, becoming run-down, working too hard or not eating ‘right.’ (Carruthers et al 2003). ME/ICD-CFS is not a form of ‘burnout.’
What does cause Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? Are there outbreaks?
There is a history of recorded outbreaks going back to 1934, when an epidemic of what seemed at first to be poliomyelitis was reported in Los Angeles. A review of early outbreaks found that clinical symptoms were consistent in over sixty recorded epidemics of M.E. spread all over the world (Dunn 2005, [Online]). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is an acutely acquired neurological illness (with systemic effects) initiated by a virus infection. This point of view is supported by history (ME/ICD-CFS epidemics have followed polio epidemics and serological studies have shown that communities affected by an outbreak of M.E. were effectively blocked (or immune) from the effects of a subsequent polio outbreak). (Dowsett 1999.a, [Online]). incidence (correlation with a flu-like prodromic illness), symptoms (swollen lymph nodes, low-grade fever, sore throat), and similarities with other viral ailments, notably mononucleosis and post-polio syndrome (Gellman & Verillo 1997, p. 19). Research also supports a viral causation for the illness.
In 1959 Dr. Donald Henderson (a CDC epidemiologist) and Dr. Alexis Shelakov (a NIH epidemiologist) noted: ‘The pattern of the epidemic, the absence of any common exposure factors and the high incidence among medical and hospital personnel were consistent only with an infectious disease transmitted from person to person.’ (McLaughlin 2004, [Online])
The US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) placed ME/ICD-CFS on its "Priority One; New and Emerging" list of infectious diseases some years ago; a list that also includes Lyme disease, hepatitis C, and malaria.’ (Gellman & Verillo 1997, p. 19) But it seems that is the only real ‘action’ they’ve taken. No real research into transmissibility (or more importantly on reducing infection rates) has been done by the Government despite ample evidence that this is an infectious disease. There have been many well-documented clusters or outbreaks of the illness, reports of as many as 4.5% of M.E. sufferers contracting the illness immediately after blood transfusions (or after needle-stick injuries involving the blood of ME/ICD-CFS patients), evidence of the disease spreading through casual contact amongst family members and so on. (Johnson, 1996)
As Dr Elizabeth Dowsett explains: ‘The problem we face is that, in spite of overwhelming epidemiological and technical evidence of an infectious case, the truth is being suppressed by the government and the 'official' M.E. charities as 'too scary' for the general public.’ (b [Online])
This pretence of ignorance on behalf of Government has had enormous consequences; only in the UK are people with ME/ICD-CFS directly banned from donating blood for example. So it is that the number of people infected with ME/ICD-CFS continues to rise unabated and largely unnoticed by the public. (Johnson, 1996)
This is merely an excerpt of the full-text. To read on (and for references) see: What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis?
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