Frontiers In Medicine recently published a critical review by Maureen Hanson and Adam O’Neal of Cornell University’s Department of Biology and Genetics. The authors searched for the cause of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a term first used in the United Kingdom following an outbreak of an infection in the UK in 1955.
In the U.S., chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is more widely used, as the term was initially used by the CDC in 1988. Hence, we refer to the disease as ME/CFS. In reality, both terms describe the same issues.
About ME/CFS
ME/CFS is a multi-system disorder. The cause has not yet been determined although enteroviruses (EVs) have been suspected. EVs are associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections of the central nervous system, heart, and muscle. The list of symptoms includes:
- Fatigue
- Memory and concentration problems
- Sore throat
- Tender lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- Multi-joint pain
- Headaches
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Post-exertional malaise
Researchers point to evidence that they are seeing increased enteroviral infections in ME/CFS patients. However, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, the last two decades have seen fewer studies related to the disease.
Authors and Evidence
The authors reviewed ME/CFS functional changes related to enterovirus infection. They conducted a critical review of techniques used in previous EV and ME/CFS studies.
The authors came to the conclusion, after submitting a significant amount of evidence, that previous epidemics of ME/CSF did, in fact, result from enterovirus groups. They reiterate that techniques used previously were insufficient to negate enteroviral infections as the cause of ME/CFS. They agree that additional studies, using the most up-to-date molecular techniques, are required.
COVID-19 Steps In
Reports are coming in that people with long-term COVID-19 symptoms are going into remission after they have received anti-SARS COV2 vaccinations. Treating an ME/CFS patient in this manner would not be possible without the presence of the enterovirus. Again, more studies are warranted.
