By Emily Miller
Chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating illness affecting up to 2.5 million Americans, may soon get a new name and set of diagnostic criteria.
In a report released Tuesday, an independent panel of experts convened by the U.S. government called the illness a “legitimate” disease that features five main symptoms and should be taken seriously by physicians.
Based off the research in the report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is urging the name be changed to “Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease” to better reflect the seriousness of its effect on patients. Patients diagnosed with this condition suffer from more than just a psychological symptoms but also from physical symptoms. More research is needed to fully understand how this conditions affects as many as 2.5 million Americans.
Although the cause of the disorder is still unknown, the panel of experts have established three critical symptoms for the condition.
· Sharp reduction in ability to engage in pre-illness activity levels that lasts for more than six months and is accompanied by deep fatigue
· Worsening of symptoms after any type of exertion, including “physical, cognitive or emotional stress”
· Sleep that doesn’t refresh the sufferer
In addition to the above symptoms, patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome also includes either cognitive impairment or the inability to remain upright for a long period of time. This forces the individual to remain in a horizontal position, which is also known as “orthostatic intolerance.”
Due to the nature of the condition, it can take an individual years to find a health-care provider who diagnoses them with the condition.
Most individuals develop the disorder after contracting a cold, flu or other viral illnesses, but other environmental or toxic exposures may act as triggers.
Sixty-seven percent to 77 percent reported that it took longer than a year to receive a diagnosis, about 29 percent said it took longer than five years, and a vast majority of the population remain undiagnosed, according to the survey.
Many individuals have been accused of imagining or exaggerating their symptoms, and many doctors have viewed it as a psychological illness. This negative stereotype that is associated with this disorder is hoped to be abolished with continued research. In fact, less than one-third of medical schools include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome information in their curriculum.
The overall economic cost of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is estimated at $17 to $24 billion annually with $9.1 billion of that being attributed to lost household and job productivity, according to the IOM.
The IOM hopes to redefine the disorder; develop a toolkit to help doctors diagnose the disease; assign a specific medical billing code to the disease and continue to conduct research and studies.
