Med J Aust. 1988 Jan 18;148(2):80-2. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1988.tb104513.x.

Idiopathic chronic fatigue and myalgia syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis): some thoughts on nomenclature and aetiology.

The Medical journal of Australia

E Byrne

PMID: 3336341 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1988.tb104513.x

Abstract

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.

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MeSH terms

• Chronic Disease
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Encephalitis / diagnosis
• Encephalitis / etiology
• Fatigue / diagnosis
• Fatigue / etiology
• Humans
• Pain / diagnosis
• Pain / etiology
• Syndrome
• Terminology as Topic*

Publication Types

• Journal Article

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