What is it?

ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)     CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

ME is a chronic illness that affects many body systems and their functions. The changes seem particularly to affect the nervous system and immune system, but they also affect other body systems. The illness can cause profound exhaustion, muscle pain, problems with mental function, such as memory loss and poor concentration, malaise and other systems. Many people know the condition as ME but the formal term used currently by the medical profession is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Who does it affect?

ME can affect men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 people in the UK with ME: nearly two thirds of them are women. A recent study in the USA showed that about 1 in 250 people in the community have symptoms of CFS. Most people develop the illness between their early twenties and mid-forties. However ME does affect children and young people, generally those between the ages of 13 and 15 but sometimes children as young as five.